Homerton College Boat Club


Homerton College Boat Club is the rowing club for members of Homerton College, University of Cambridge. HCBC colours are navy blue with white trim, although the club's Zephyr is white with blue trim. It is traditional to wear a sock of each of the boat club's colours when racing with a blue sock on the foot opposite the rigger.
In 2019, HCBC moved into a new boathouse, co-funded by and shared with City of Cambridge Rowing Club, and St Mary's School, Cambridge.

History

Homerton College Boat Club first competed in the women's Lent and May Bumps in 1978, four years after the women's bumps divisions commenced in the Mays, and two years after women's racing began in the Lents. The highest position attained to date is second in the Lents first division in 1986. In the May Bumps, the highest position was 5th in the first division in 1985. There were many Homerton women represented in CUWBC in the 1980s and 1990s, under the guidance of veteran GB coaches Roger Silk and Ron Needs. A notable fact is that one HCBC Women's crew won their oars in the 80s whilst being coached by Steve Redgrave, although the exact details are currently unknown. Homerton College, until recent years, had a very high female to male ratio and this in turn was reflected at the boat club. The women's side of the club have three eights, called 'Sarah-Ann', 'Percy' and 'Cyril', the latter being one of the first 'Burgashell' boats ever to be produced. After a number of lean years in the early 2000s, in 2007 the Homerton Women's 1st VIII achieved their first over-bump in May Bumps since the women's divisions started rowing in VIIIs rather than IVs.
In 2008, the Men's 1st VIII won their blades in the May Bumps, bumping 1st VIII and.. In 2007, the Men's 1st VIII won their blades in both Lent Bumps and May Bumps, on each occasion bumping four times to go up four places, whilst rowing five times, and moving up to division 2. Blades were also won in Lent Bumps 2004, going up 6 places, after over-bumping, and bumping, and and in Lent Bumps 2009.
In 2017, HCBC's first women's VIII, rowing in a brand new Janousek boat 'Edey', went up four places, obtaining blades and securing their spot in the women's Mays first division, the first time since 2000.

Oxbridge Record

The Men's 1st VIII also hold the Oxbridge record for the most places advanced during one series of bumps, advancing 13 places in the May Bumps 2001 by bumping LMBC IV on day one, and sandwiching up to division 3 by bumping Corpus II, overbumping Sidney II and triple-overbumping 1st & 3rd III the following two days and bumping Selwyn II on the final dayto take blades.

University colours

List of known members of University Boat Clubs:

CUBC

In May 2004, the position of HCBC President was founded at the Club AGM and written into the Club constitution. The role of President is to oversee the running of HCBC by the executive committee, and along with the Senior Treasurer, a College fellow appointed by Homerton College, to ensure the long-term success of the Club and contribution to College life.

HCBC Presidents