Trophy talk: Rowers Reflections on The Boat Race Trophies

Read About The Boat Race Trophies Display

Cath Bishop

Pembroke Blue: 1991 and 1993 Olympian: Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004

For me, I'm not sure it was ever about the trophy.... more about what the trophy represented that I still treasure: shared experiences, lifelong friendships, an exploration of my physical and mental capabilities, belonging to a unique team who have been through incredible highs and lows together, in order to prepare to be our best when we lined up to race The Boat Race.

thecathbishop

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      <span class="text-white">Matt Brittin</span>
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      Robinson <small class="text-info">Blue: 1987-89 Olympian: Seoul 1988</small>
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        It’s not about that trophy. But the trophy is a symbol of the most intense
        months of effort, fatigue, of competition to win a seat. Of the hours
        of forging a common way to move the boat faster. Of determined training
        battles, the pain of pushing beyond, and the lessons learned along the way.
        Most of all it's the embodiment of head to head competition that requires
        everything and can end in nothing.  In years to come the trophy also
        becomes about friendships within and across the blues, common cause
        and history.
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    <p class="text-white"><i class="fab fa-twitter"></i> <a href="https://twitter.com/MattBrittin" class="text-white">MattBrittin</p>


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Liv Coffey

Homerton Blue: 2018 Olympian: Tokyo 2020

When I see The Boat Race Trophy, I’m not so much reminded of winning the race or the rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge. I’m reminded of the hours I spent training with my teammates, sessions alone in the gym after school, early morning bike rides to the train, late nights completing homework assignments, and weekends spent out at Ely. I’m reminded of all the effort it took to be successful on the Thames that day, and I can’t help but be thankful for the challenge and everyone who helped me and CUBC along the way.

Myriam Goudet

Lucy Cavendish Blue: 2016, 2017, 2018

When I arrived in Cambridge, the women's trophies had only dark blue ribbons, I am incredibly proud to see that we started a light blue ribbons legacy. They represent way more than winning or losing but an entire club. Who thought that the trophies could contain an entire magnum of Champagne?

Goudet3

Holly Hill

Downing Blue: 2015, 2017

In 2015 I stood to the side of the boat race podium at Mortlake, watching Oxford lift the Women's Trophy for the first time on the Tideway.

        Fortunately, in 2017 I returned to London to help paint the Thames
        light blue and raise the trophy alongside my fantastic Cambridge crewmates.
        Irrelevant of who wins though, the trophy symbolises balance, equality and
        diversity in sport - things that I'm proud to have been a small part of
        during my time.
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  <p class="text-white"><i class="fab fa-twitter"></i> <a href="https://twitter.com/hollyhill123" class="text-white">hollyhill123</p>

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Charlie Marcus

Trinity Current CUBC Men's President

To me the trophy captures all the elements of what it means to take part in this historic race, workmanship, dedication and teamwork. The trophy's elegant form, created by so many skilled individuals, echoes a Boat Race campaign where it takes the effort from so many people behind the scenes to make a crew.
        The lifting of the trophy with
        all of my crewmates after winning the 2021 Men's Boat Race is a moment
        I will never forget. It was the culmination of years of dedication from
        all of us and the trophy waiting for us at the finish line marked a
        fitting end to that process.
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    <p class="text-white"><i class="fab fa-twitter"></i> <a href="https://twitter.com/chmarcus" class="text-white">chmarcus</p>
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Larkin Sayre

Emmanuel CUBC President 2019

Lifting this trophy in 2019 along with incredible teammates, coaches and supporters was an unforgettable moment. It represents a lot of hard work, our love for the sport and the uniqueness of the Boat Race.

cuwbcpresident

Callum Sullivan

Downing CUBC President 2021

The Boat Race Trophy appears twice on Boat Race day. Once in Putney, as the crews line up against one another in order to toss a coin for stations. And then again at the presentation at Mortlake.

Raising the trophy above my head in 2021 was a moment I’d imagined countless times during the season and a memory I still recall whenever I think of the race.

Melissa Wilson

Lucy Cavendish Blue: 2017

I remember seeing the newly designed trophy for the Women’s Race at The Boat Race Challenge in London one dark autumn evening. The lighting was dim but worked perfectly to pick out the trophy’s beautiful whorls, which evoke the Tideway’s water so successfully.
        It now prompts very happy memories of the recent succession of Cambridge
        women’s crews who’ve held  it aloft in celebration.
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    <p class="text-white"><i class="fab fa-twitter"></i> <a href="https://twitter.com/mhcwilson" class="text-white">mhcwilson</p>
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Sarah Winckless MBE

Fitzwilliam Blue: 1995, 1996, 1997 Olympian: Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and Boat Race Umpire 2021

Each day in training the athletes of the two universities will be giving their best, firstly for a chance to represent their university and to have their colours tied to it just after the finish on Race day. They are a representation of each individual's hopes and dreams and blood sweat and tears. As an Umpire I want to ensure that the selected athlete has a fair and equal chance of achieving that dream.