St Edmund Hall Boat Club
St Edmund Hall Boat Club (commonly abbreviated to SEHBC) is a rowing club for members of St Edmund Hall, Oxford. It is based in its own boathouse on the Isis. The early days. According to one of the many blades in the boathouse, SEHBC was established in 1861. There is also a crew photograph dating from 1863. SEHBC first entered a crew in Summer Eights in 1861, starting the bottom of the then 16 boat single Division, and getting one bump. SEHBC first finished ahead of the University Summer Eights statistical rankings in 1869 with  seven bumps over the then eight days of racing (though finishing 14th on the River in the then single 21 boat Division), its best position for a number of years thereafter. For the remainder of the Nineteenth Century SEHBC put a crew out most years, but with only limited success, generally finishing at or near the bottom of the River (1874 had seen the introduction of a Second Division). SEHBC maintained its place at or near the bottom of the River through the pre-World War I years, with the exceptions of 1913 (finishing fifth in the bottom 3rd Division  with three bumps) and 1914 (when it held its position in the 3rd Division). SEH put no boat out in Torpids for the first 40 years of its existence. Its first appearance in Torpids was not until 1901 when its boat started the second bottom of the bottom 3rd Division, was bumped on Day 1 by New College III, then rowed over for the remaining five days of Torpids to finish bottom of the River. Perhaps chastened by this, it put no boat out again until 1907, where starting bottom it bumped Keble II. No further boat was entered until  1910 when the boat made five bumps to finish in the middle of the bottom 3rd Division. Thereafter it performed respectably until World War I, maintaining its place in the 3rd Division, getting four bumps in 1911, but being bumped four times in 1914. Between the wars. Summer Eights. This pattern held in the 1920s, with SEH being perhaps handicapped by being one of the smaller Colleges at the time, although the boat achieved four bumps over six days of racing in 1925. However, in 1930 SEHBC again finished ahead of the University Summer Eights statistical rankings, for the first  time since 1869, with its only VIII achieving seven bumps over the then six days of racing. The Summer Eights of 1934 was perhaps the most successful in SEHBC's history until that point and were the first Summer Eights in which SEHBC entered two crews. The 1st VIII first won promotion to the 1st Division, with seven bumps over the six days of racing, and the 2nd VIII started at the bottom of the bottom 5th Division and won promotion to the 4th Division also with seven bumps. Overall, this ensured that SEHBC finished a head of the 1934  University Summer Eights statistical rankings. The Times of Thursday 24 May 1934 reported that - ""The racing in the Summer Eights was concluded at Oxford yesterday when Oriel retained the Headship of the River. ... St. Edmund Hall continued their victorious career with a bump over St. John's in Iffley Reach and this completed a record in gaining seven bumps in the six days' racing. St. Edmund Hall has been steadily gaining a reputation in other branches of sport although they only number 120, this is the first occasion on which they have ever made their way into the First Division . Not satisfied with this their second crew, which started bottom but one in the Fifth Division, also made seven bumps, which put them well into the Fourth Division. ... This remarkable achievement was equalled also by Queen's II, who, starting fourth in the Fourth Division, finished ninth in the Third."" The Summer Eights of 1935 saw the first appearance of an SEH 3rd VIII, with SEHBC repeating its success in finishing head of the University Summer Eights statistical rankings. The remainder of the 1930s saw the 1st VIII maintain its position in the upper half of the 1st Division, finishing  fourth on the River in 1938, and second on the River in 1939 (its highest ever Summer Eights place at that point). The 2nd VIII steadily made its way up the rankings, making three bumps in Summer Eights 1936, making another record-equalling seven bumps over the six days of Summer Eights 1937, making four bumps in 1938, and finishing top of the 3rd Division in 1939 with three bumps. Summer Eights continued to be held on a much-reduced basis during World War II, with many colleges combining to form crews. SEH paired with Queen's College, fielding three  combined crews for most of 1940–45. Torpids. Torpids were suspended during World War I, resuming in 1920. SEH remained in the 3rd Division for the 1920s, gradually working its way up, finishing head of the 3rd Division in Torpids 1930. Moving into the 2nd Division for the first time in 1931, the SEH VIII got six bumps in the then six day Torpids format. The rowing correspondent of The Times commented on the success of SEH ""who are now taking a prominent place in every branch of sport at Oxford."" Torpids 1933 saw the best SEH performance in Torpids to  date, with the VIII getting six bumps and winning promotion for the first time to the 1st Division. The Times noted that ""St. Edmund Hall eclipsed all their previous performances on the river by making no fewer than four bumps in the First Division, with a record of six altogether"." SEHBC put out a 2nd VIII for the first time in Torpids 1935, being entered in the new 4th Division, and making six bumps and winning promotion to the 3rd Division. The 1st VIII got four bumps in the 1st Division, and finished third on the river, its highest ever  place. The 2nd VIII made four bumps in 1936, with the 1st VIII dropping to fifth on the river. British Pathe footage exists of the 1936 Torpids (crews unknown) from 'News in a Nutshell' (from about 30–60 sec in). The 1st VIII regained its third position in Torpids 1937, and after being bumped on the first day, the 2nd VIII made four bumps. After an intense series of races in Torpids 1938, with the Times correspondent expecting SEH to secure the headship for the first time in their career, the 1st VIII finished second on the river after New College . The tables were turned in the 1939 Torpids. The Times records a series of close races in the 1st Division, with New College winning by only a few feet, until the 1st VIII got its bump, finishing Head of the River for the first time. The Times commented that ""it was a red letter day for St. Edmund Hall, one of the smallest of Oxford colleges, who realized their ambition by wresting the Headship of the River from New College. St. Edmund Hall have always maintained their rowing traditions, notwithstanding the difficulties they have experienced in manning an eight, which  on one occasion forced them to transfer their coxswain to the bow thwart"." The 2nd VIII bumped its way to the head of the 3rd Division, making Torpids 1939 SEHBC's most successful rowing campaign to date. Post-World War II. Summer Eights 1946 was the first full Eights Week after the war, with all crews resuming from the 1939 finishing order. The post-war years and the 1950s saw SEHBC generally maintain its positions in the Divisions, with the 1st VIII in the 1st Division (finishing sixth in 1957, and fourth in 1958) and the 2nd VIII in the  3rd Division. Notably, the 3rd VIII achieved six bumps on the then six days in 1952, and repeated that achievement in both 1953 and in 1954 (although 1954 saw the introduction of the four race Summer Eights format, with the SEH 3rd VIII bumping on all four days). The 3rd VIII continued this run of success with three bumps in each of the 1955 and 1956 Summer Eights. The Summer Eights of 1953 saw the first appearance of the SEH 4th VIII, racing in the 7th Division, and achieving four bumps in the then six day format. This was followed  in 1957 by the first appearance of the SEH 5th VIII, rowing over second bottom in the 7th Division. The era of SEH dominance. SEHBC was the dominant College boat club in the University in the 1960s. Summer Eights. The 1st VIII were Head of the River in Summer Eights in 1959, 1960, 1961, 1964, and 1965. SEHBC finished head of the overall University Summer Eights standings in 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965 (putting out a record eight crews), 1966, 1967, 1968, and 1969. Notably, in 1965 the Boat Club ended Summer Eights with both its 1st and 2nd  VIIIs in the 1st Division, with the 1st VIII as Head of the River and the 2nd VIII having made four bumps to win promotion to the 1st Division. This is the only time in the post-World War II era that a College has simultaneously had both its 1st and 2nd VIIIs in the 1st Division, and has not been repeated since. The 2nd VIII maintained its place in the 1st Division in 1966, but lost it in 1967. Henley Royal Regatta. SEH also enjoyed success at the Henley Royal Regatta. SEHBC at the Olympics. A number of SEHBC  rowers have represented their countries at the Olympic Games. These include: · Tokyo 1960: Richard Fishlock, GB Men's VIII · Tokyo 1960: RCI Bate, GB Men's VIII · Beijing 2008: Scott Frandsen, Canadian Coxless Pair (Silver medallist) · Beijing 2008, Alice Freeman, GB Women's VIII · London 2012, Scott Frandsen, Canadian Coxless Pair Later years. More recently, the Women's 1st VIII were Head of the River in Summer Eights in 2006, and maintained their headship in 2007, 2008, and 2009, a first in college history. The men have had notable success in Torpids over the years. Each of the Men's  1st VIII, 2nd VIII, and 3rd VIII has won blades five times or more (the 3rd VIII most recently in 1983, the 2nd VIII most recently in 2016, and the 1st VIII six times, most recently in 2009). Both the 1st and 2nd Torpids VIIIs were awarded blades in 2009. SEHBC has achieved this feat at least once before in the 1930s. The Men's 2nd VIII went on to be awarded blades in Summer Eights of the same year. Facilities. The club has a well-equipped erg room, containing 16 Concept2 ergs and with large mirrors lining one wall . In addition, the club has access to several Rowperfect machines. Above the boat bays is a large club room, with a bar and basic facilities, including a large balcony with a good view from the Greenbank round to the Finish. The walls are adorned with SEHBC memorabilia, including historic blades and photographs.