Breaking boundaries: the history of a revolutionary club
putting women on the river
For many years, women were forbidden from rowing, just as they were banned from higher education, under the pretext that the sport would damage their reproductive organs. However, in 1921, forty-two years after the foundation of Somerville College, Somerville Boat Club was established as one of the first women’s boat clubs in Oxford.
In 1927, women were finally allowed to race in bumps. Only 12 colleges were part of this early women’s division, Somerville, of course, being one of them.
a history of champions
From their debut on the river, the rowers of SCBC have gone from strength to strength. Within four years of beginning bumps racing, Somerville reached head of the river. To this day, Somerville women have the most headships of any female college boat club on the Isis: eight in Summer VIIIs and five in Torpids.
inclusion of all people
In 1994, having established a strong feminist tradition, Somerville, in accordance with its inclusive nature, welcomed its first cohort of men. Led by first Open Captain Ian Pickett, SCBC began a new era with both a Women’s and an Open side. Since then, Somerville Men have led several successful blades campaigns. Both sides continue to work hard at providing opportunities for as many students to row as possible.
