Oxford University Lightweight Rowing Club
Encyclopedia
Oxford University Lightweight Rowing Club (OULRC) is the university rowing club at the University of Oxford
which has the privilege of selecting crews to race against the Cambridge University Lightweight Rowing Club
in the Henley Boat Races
at the end of Hilary term. These races usually held in late March each year.
OULRC commences the selection process in October at the beginning of Michaelmas term, and recruits from both undergraduate and postgraduate members of the university. By the end of Michaelmas, the squad is reduced to two trial eights which compete in a Trial Eights race at Henley-on-Thames over the course used for the race against Cambridge. From this squad the club selects a first crew, known as the Lightweight Blue Boat, and a reserve crew, known as Nephthys.
The Blue Boat goes on to race Cambridge. From 2000 until 2006 Nephthys also raced against a lightweight reserve crew from Cambridge, Granta. Since 2007, however, Cambridge has declined to field a Granta crew, and Nephthys has been limited to racing in the Tideway Head
and other external races.
Nephthys derives its name from the Egyptian goddess
of the same name who was claimed to be the sister of Isis
. Isis is the name given to the heavyweight reserve crew, and is also the term used within the university for the reach of the Thames between Osney lock and Iffley lock on which the college crews row.
Although the Blue Boat does not compete in regattas after racing against Cambridge, OULRC does occasionally field crews in the Henley Royal Regatta
, which often compete as Nephthys.
Those rowers selected for the Blue Boat and Nephthys become life members of OULRC.
The Blue Boat crew have the right to wear a distinctive uniform. This includes a cream cable sweater with two blue stripes around the neck and the club insignia embroidered in the centre of the chest. They also wear a blue and white broadly striped blazer with the club insignia on the chest pocket. This replaced a blue blazer with white piping and embroidery worn in the early years of the club. Nephthys members wear a white blazer with blue piping, with crossed blades and the word Nephthys on the chest pocket.
. OULRC was formed soon after.
The management of the club is in the hands of an elected committee composed of students, although the day to day running is mainly in the hands of the President, who is elected by Blue Boat and Nephthys members each year. Like all Oxford University clubs, it also has a senior member, who is a university don. Additionally, the club employs a head coach who is responsible for the training programme.
Along with OUBC, Oxford University Women's Boat Club and Oxford University Lightweight Women's Boat Club, OULRC is part of Oxford University Rowing Clubs
which is the body that oversees all college rowing in Oxford.
After leaving the university, Blue Boat and Nephthys life members are eligible to join the OULRC Old Member Association. Life members of the club traditionally have no role in its affairs after going down, although they are active in supporting the club.
a similar dispute also arose in relation to the selection of the Lightweight Blue Boat. This dispute threatened the running of the 1987 race.
The President, David Whittaker, who rowed the previous year, had lost a selection race against another rower, Sean Sinclair. As President, Whittaker claimed the right to select the crew against the recommendations of the coach, and former OUBC Blue, Rob Clay. The crew, in turn, refused to row with Whittaker in the boat. The matter was finally resolved when an extraordinary meeting was called and life members from London travelled up to Oxford to elect Bob Macdonald as President.
Ironically, one of the American OUBC mutineers, Dan Lyons was called in to assist in coaching the 1987 crew after the original coach, Rob Clay, was called out of retirement to stroke Isis.
Since 2007 OULRC has been based at the Fleming Boat House at Wallingford alongside OUBC. The club also utilises the facilities at the university's Iffley Road Sports Centre.
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
which has the privilege of selecting crews to race against the Cambridge University Lightweight Rowing Club
Cambridge University Lightweight Rowing Club
Cambridge University Lightweight Rowing Club is the University rowing club for lightweight oarsmen at the University of Cambridge. In past years it has fielded two crews to race against Oxford in the Henley Boat Races: the lightweight Blue Boat and Granta, the lightweight reserve crew. CULRC has...
in the Henley Boat Races
Henley Boat Races
The Henley Boat Races are a number of rowing races between the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. Taking place on the River Thames at Henley, they are for crews that do not compete in the main University Boat Race on the 6,779m Championship Course in London:* Women's Boat Race *...
at the end of Hilary term. These races usually held in late March each year.
Membership and Racing
Membership of OULRC is by competitive selection drawn solely from student members of the university.OULRC commences the selection process in October at the beginning of Michaelmas term, and recruits from both undergraduate and postgraduate members of the university. By the end of Michaelmas, the squad is reduced to two trial eights which compete in a Trial Eights race at Henley-on-Thames over the course used for the race against Cambridge. From this squad the club selects a first crew, known as the Lightweight Blue Boat, and a reserve crew, known as Nephthys.
The Blue Boat goes on to race Cambridge. From 2000 until 2006 Nephthys also raced against a lightweight reserve crew from Cambridge, Granta. Since 2007, however, Cambridge has declined to field a Granta crew, and Nephthys has been limited to racing in the Tideway Head
Head of the River Race
The Head of the River Race is a processional rowing race held annually on the River Thames in London, England, on the 4.25 mile Championship Course from Mortlake to Putney.-History:...
and other external races.
Nephthys derives its name from the Egyptian goddess
Nephthys
In Egyptian mythology, Nephthys is a member of the Great Ennead of Heliopolis, a daughter of Nut and Geb. Nephthys was typically paired with her sister Isis in funerary rites because of their role as protectors of the mummy and the god Osiris and as the sister-wife of Seth.Nephthys is regarded as...
of the same name who was claimed to be the sister of Isis
Isis
Isis or in original more likely Aset is a goddess in Ancient Egyptian religious beliefs, whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. She was worshipped as the ideal mother and wife as well as the matron of nature and magic...
. Isis is the name given to the heavyweight reserve crew, and is also the term used within the university for the reach of the Thames between Osney lock and Iffley lock on which the college crews row.
Although the Blue Boat does not compete in regattas after racing against Cambridge, OULRC does occasionally field crews in the Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
, which often compete as Nephthys.
Those rowers selected for the Blue Boat and Nephthys become life members of OULRC.
The Blue Boat crew have the right to wear a distinctive uniform. This includes a cream cable sweater with two blue stripes around the neck and the club insignia embroidered in the centre of the chest. They also wear a blue and white broadly striped blazer with the club insignia on the chest pocket. This replaced a blue blazer with white piping and embroidery worn in the early years of the club. Nephthys members wear a white blazer with blue piping, with crossed blades and the word Nephthys on the chest pocket.
Organisation and History
The first Lightweight Boat Race was in 1975, and the first lightweight crew originally raced under the auspices of Oxford University Boat ClubOxford University Boat Club
The Oxford University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Oxford, England, located on the River Thames at Oxford. The club was founded in the early 19th century....
. OULRC was formed soon after.
The management of the club is in the hands of an elected committee composed of students, although the day to day running is mainly in the hands of the President, who is elected by Blue Boat and Nephthys members each year. Like all Oxford University clubs, it also has a senior member, who is a university don. Additionally, the club employs a head coach who is responsible for the training programme.
Along with OUBC, Oxford University Women's Boat Club and Oxford University Lightweight Women's Boat Club, OULRC is part of Oxford University Rowing Clubs
Oxford University Rowing Clubs
Oxford University Rowing Clubs is the confederation of OUBC, OUWBC, OULRC and OUWLRC. It is the body which has authority over the conduct of all College crews, and is responsible for organising inter-collegiate contests.-Inter-collegiate Events run by OURCs:...
which is the body that oversees all college rowing in Oxford.
After leaving the university, Blue Boat and Nephthys life members are eligible to join the OULRC Old Member Association. Life members of the club traditionally have no role in its affairs after going down, although they are active in supporting the club.
1987 Mutiny
In 1987, at the time of the OUBC MutinyThe Boat Race
The event generally known as "The Boat Race" is a rowing race in England between the Oxford University Boat Club and the Cambridge University Boat Club, rowed between competing eights each spring on the River Thames in London. It takes place generally on the last Saturday of March or the first...
a similar dispute also arose in relation to the selection of the Lightweight Blue Boat. This dispute threatened the running of the 1987 race.
The President, David Whittaker, who rowed the previous year, had lost a selection race against another rower, Sean Sinclair. As President, Whittaker claimed the right to select the crew against the recommendations of the coach, and former OUBC Blue, Rob Clay. The crew, in turn, refused to row with Whittaker in the boat. The matter was finally resolved when an extraordinary meeting was called and life members from London travelled up to Oxford to elect Bob Macdonald as President.
Ironically, one of the American OUBC mutineers, Dan Lyons was called in to assist in coaching the 1987 crew after the original coach, Rob Clay, was called out of retirement to stroke Isis.
Facilities and Training
For much of its history, OULRC trained variously at Radley and at Godstowe, upstream from Oxford. This was necessary due to the congestion on the Isis, as well as the need for long stretches of river on which to do endurance training.Since 2007 OULRC has been based at the Fleming Boat House at Wallingford alongside OUBC. The club also utilises the facilities at the university's Iffley Road Sports Centre.
See also
- Oxford University Rowing ClubsOxford University Rowing ClubsOxford University Rowing Clubs is the confederation of OUBC, OUWBC, OULRC and OUWLRC. It is the body which has authority over the conduct of all College crews, and is responsible for organising inter-collegiate contests.-Inter-collegiate Events run by OURCs:...
- Oxford University Boat ClubOxford University Boat ClubThe Oxford University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Oxford, England, located on the River Thames at Oxford. The club was founded in the early 19th century....
- Oxford University Women's Boat Club