Oxford University Summer Eights Week

May 25, 2010

The Oxford University annual four day inter-college Summer Eights event starts tomorrow on the River Isis in Oxford.

What is Summer Eights?

Summer Eights is a rowing event comprising four days racing from Wednesday to Saturday of 5th week in Trinity term, with a qualifying session (Rowing On) held the preceding Friday. This year Summer Eights will occur from the 26th May to 29th May.

Rowing On:

This is a timed race from Longbridges to Christ Church Meadow. The event is run as a processional race, with crews set off at regular intervals in divisions (subject to entry levels), between 1pm and 4pm. The fastest crews covering the course then qualify for Summer Eights proper.

Summer Eights:

Racing occurs between 11.55am and 6.45pm, except on Saturday when the first division is at 10.55am and the last at 5.45pm. The course is upstream within the stretch from Iffley Lock to Folly Bridge. Racing is split into 13 divisions, each of 13 boats, racing at approximately 35 minute intervals. The aim of racing is to catch up with the boat in front and gain a ‘bump’. Both crews involved in a bump move out of the way and cease racing. Other boats must continue racing until the finish line.