The origins of St John's College Boat Club are lost in the mists of time, with tankards indicating that the Boat Club functioned as early as 1852. However, the Boat Club as we know it today was formed in 1863 by New Zealand born undergraduate, C.Y. Fell. Recognising that St John's was a college of 'hopeless idlers, intent only on pleasure', Mr Fell took it upon himself to raise the funds necessary to pay off the old Club's debts and buy a new racing boat. Such efforts propelled SJCBC to immediate bumping success in 1864 as the college 1st VIII won blades. So began 'a fine rowing spirit which mainly helped to gradually turn the College from a set of idlers into an eager lot of rowing men'.

 

In the late 19th century, the Boat Club grew beyond what could have been expected of 'a small College [that] does not recruit from rowing schools'. A second boat was created, the Club began to produce its first of many Varsity oarsmen, and the 1st VIII bumped up to the dizzy heights of 2nd on the river - the highest position the college has ever held in Summer Eights.

 

The early 20th century saw SJCBC's 1st Torpid cement its standing in the first division, whilst the 1st VIII battled for position amongst the crews of the second and top divisions. A university-wide shortage of students during World War II led SJCBC to ally with Worcester College Boat Club, allowing both colleges to continue to compete in Oxford bumps racing. The union dissolved in 1945 and ushered in the college's most successful period of rowing. SJCBC held the Torpids headship in 1946, 1961 and 1967, cemented its position within the first divisions and competed regularly at Henley Royal Regatta.

 

The 1970s saw a downturn in the college's rowing fortunes, but in 1979 women began rowing for SJCBC, the same year as the first female undergraduates were admitted to the college. In the 80s and 90s the Boat Club rapidly expanded: new boats were bought in 1984, 1986 and 1989, the Boat Club regularly fielded five crews or more in both Torpids and Eights, and St John's performed consistently well in Christ Church Regatta with victories in 1984, 1985, 1990, 1991 and 1992. Both men's and women's crews improved their standings throughout the period, with the women also competing in their first external competition at Bisway Head in 1987 and at Henley the following year. 

 

Since then, our Women’s First Eight regained the Headship in Summer Eights 2013. Other notable recent successes include blades for the Men’s First Eight in 2017. 

 

Today, SJCBC is one of the up-and-coming boat clubs. After a period of rebuilding following the Covid pandemic, where the club was falling in the Torpids and Eights rankings, our recent campaign has proven that we are on the rise again. We recently attended our first external regatta in many years, entering two crews into Bedford Regatta. SJCBC in Summer Eights 2023 was the top performing Boat Club, accumulating 11 bumps across 4 boats, with both of our men's crews going +5. We look forward to continuing to capitalise on our hard work in the coming academic year. 

Written: 2023