On Saturday 21st November six of the eight of the first ever women’s eight got back on the water as part of the celebrations of 30 years of women at Balliol.

As we walked down to the river, there was much talk from the crew of ’79 about how embarrassing this reunion was going to be – fears that they would have forgotten how to row, possibly that they would manage to capsize the boat. Within the first few strokes it was, however, clear that their rowing technique had survived the test of time. The two current W1 girls subbing in were, in fact, worried that they were being shown up.

Comparing notes on how rowing at Balliol had changed, we current girls were struggling to imagine rowing training without ergs. The crew of ’79 were delighted to learn that Steve the boatman was still Steve the boatman. All were pleased to learn that both then and now, BCWBC is a multiple blade winning club. A lovely time was had by all. Here’s to the next 30 years of women’s rowing at Balliol.

The rowers were Rebecca Hardy, Cressida Dick, Catherine Milsum, Margaret Quinn, Jane Edmondson and Susan Harnett. Debbie, cox of one of the first women’s eights, was bankriding.