A note from the presidentIt's hard to find the right words to do justice to the week that Eddies has just had during the May Bumps. Unbelievable, extraordinary, sublime, exceptional, historic, momentous would be just a few that spring to mind!  Richard Naisby presenting the Pegasus Cup for most successful college in the May Bumps 2025 We had high hopes of a good week but I don't think anyone could have predicted, or even dare dream, of having a perfect week, achieving 13/13 successful bumps, taking home two sets of blades, one set of super blades AND the much sought after Pegasus Cup! I would be interested to know when/if any of the Cambridge colleges last achieved such a feat....In 2008 we came home with three sets of blades & the Pegasus Cup, however two of those were technical blades meaning that the crews went +4 but rowed over on one of the days - an exceptional year, topped only by our crews of 2025!  SECBC Class of 2025 Having been President of SECBC for the last two years, it has been an absolute privilege to watch the club go from strength to strength and I am so proud to see everyone's hard work come to fruition. In the words of Matt Heywood "NOW YOU KNOW!". I must thank our committee of 2024/25 and in particular our captains, Justin Wei & Shannon O'Shea, who have made the successes of this year possible - you did it! Absolute heroes! I would also like to thank our W2 crew who sadly missed out on the GOR by just 2s but their support on the bank during the week was hugely appreciated by us all. Your time will come, of that I have no doubt.  Finally, a most heartfelt thank you from me to our honorary presidents Paul, Lily & Andy (pictured right). The clubs biggest supporters for so many years, you make so much possible for us. Indeed this year alone you helped secure a new boat, new oars, the design of our new blazers, and now of course TRIPLE BLADES! We are so very grateful for all you do. Race reports from our captains IN RACE DAY ORDERM2
DAY 1 Spirits were inflated from the glowing GoR rites, yet the abyss of expectation gaped wide. Panic crept in upon whispers that a comrade wandered foreign lands, begging blessings from dusty saints in Santiago. Yet true power needs no prayers. Our quarry, Peterhouse M4—no, their M3 hidden beneath false banner—lay ripe for slaughter. Clare Hall lurked, dreaming foolish dreams. The Ukrainian valkyrie, Yuliia, urged: “Get hard, stay hard, finish hard.” And lo, Clare Hall crumbled like soft cheese, while Peterhouse surrendered swiftly, their hull violated by our prow. Lily’s war cry erupted—an obscene echo of primal conquest. DAY 2 Sidney awaited, sterner prey, yet weak before our destiny. The prey resisted, spirited yet doomed. Yuthika steered the chariot true, until Grassy corner became their watery grave. Yet legend demands absurdities—Wildon, mad warrior, heeding no commands, threatened mutiny. Furious cries erupted: “HOLD IT UP! 2 & 4, TAP! TAP! Wildon! WILDON! EMILE! Obey me, gods curse you!” Only grudgingly did order resume. Then Wildon, in post-race debrief, claimed: “I think my blade was stuck. I couldn’t take a tap.” Video replay says otherwise. Lies now immortalised forever on the SECBC Wall of F/Sh-ame. DAY 3 Facing FaT M4, crew brimming with nervous trepidation. Yet, Yuthika, Amazonian steerswoman, again led with ruthless precision. Whistles heralded triumph, though FaT whispered lies of near victory against Selwyn. Lies easily disproven—what shame upon their mathematicians, unable even to count their dishonor. Yet our bowman, ever eager for infamy, turned to mock the conquered with victorious fist-bump—another proud fine to adorn our legacy. True warriors scorn petty rules. DAY 4 Selwyn, trembling beneath the shadow of fate, awaited final judgment. Yet doubt whispered foolish stratagems—rush early or linger? Prophets Angus & Yuliia commanded simplicity: row as you always have, ferocious, proud, unthinking. FaT faded into oblivion; whistles pierced the air, a joyous crescendo. The moment eternalized before first-post corner, blades seized with ruthless ecstasy. Victory absolute, divine, barbaric—worthy of immortality.  W1 Eddies eagles
Day 1 First day of bumps and we were feeling ready - if a little nervous. The sun was blazing, and looked like it would be all week. Matt reassured us that this would probably be our ‘easiest day’ - but we weren’t so sure. We rowed up to the start, locked in for the race, and spirits were high - M2 had just bumped! After a solid start, we settled into our rhythm and before we knew it, whistles were flying. Ahead of us bump between Tit Hall II and Maggie II caused carnage. We just managed to get the bump before having to hold it up - there was no space to clear. A 4 boat pileup occurred and the entire division behind us had to re-row. There were a tense few minutes while we waited to see if we had the bump, but a handshake between Matt and the umpire confirmed it: it was ours. Day 2 We were feeling good. Matt changed his mind - yesterday had actually been our hardest day. Today would be fine. With all three boats in our club bumping on Day One, the pressure was on to keep the streak alive. We had a clean start and were on whistles for Tit Hall II pretty quickly, bumping them before First Post Corner. A relatively late concession made clearing tricky again, and caused yet more carnage behind us. But we had our bump. Two days, two races, two bumps. Day 3 This was the big day. Bumping again would mean we’d be the sandwich boat and have a shot at moving up to Division 2. First up, we were chasing Maggie II - and we caught them with a solid, straightforward bump. No drama. We marshalled again for our first race in Division 2. Matt warned us this might be our longest row yet. But we like to prove him wrong: we bumped Caius II just after Newnham Bridge! Div 2 baby! Day 4 The final day. Super blades were on the line. With M2 already on blades, the stakes were getting higher. Today, for the first time, we were chasing a first boat: Darwin W1. We braced for a longer race. But when the cannon went, we were on them fast - a powerful row saw us bump them just after Newnham Bridge! Super blades secured!! Rowing home with the flag was incredible - though we had to hand it off to M1, who were also on for blades (a great problem to have).  M1 The beef barge
DAY 1 The fateful day the Beef Barge made its full crew debut. Nerves were jangled as Darwin M1 struck by surprise, having double overbumped into the station behind us. Still, the Barge found its deadly rhythm. 1st whistle under A14—the hunt was ON. Catz M2 blazed off the start, earning two whistles, but then quickly faded. The Barge stalked relentlessly, devouring the water between them before claiming blood at First Post. DAY 2 Downing M2 had humiliated the Barge in 2023—payback time. Rory kissed the first corner too tight, risking disaster in the reeds, but the Barge fought back with bovian "legs-and-hips" power. By A14, half a length separated predator from prey. Downing's wash churned desperately as they felt the Barge's hooves thundering. "CONCEDE!" roared Rory and Angus. The bump, and Angus’s grovelling masterclass, were worth the umpire impersonation fine. DAY 3 Do or die. Sidney stood between the Barge and glory, as they chased the spooning Jesus M2. Rory's battle cry echoed: "Now or never, boys!" Three crews, two sets of overlap, one Grassy corner, pure chaos. Rory held the line like a maestro (CamFM certified) while Sidney crumbled, going wide. BUMP! "One of the best ever" gasped Emeritus M1 rower, Kai. Matt launched his blade in triumph, body turned and bellowing, before the Barge had parked. Rory, exasperated, had to "HOLD IT UP" himself. Footage of a raging umpire and a sheepish Matt available on demand. DAY 4 The final reckoning. Our best start as hari krishna mantras blared under the A14. Suddenly, half a length to Jesus M2—this was it. Rory shattered the expectant air: "55 YEARS—TRIPLE BLADES—MAKE HISTORY—ANNIHILATE THEM!" The boat ERUPTED and surged. 16 apocalyptic strokes later, Jesus M2 lay motionless, their cox catapulted by George's blade. Symbolic. The Barge had done it: an Eddie’s M1 blade for the first time in 15 years. "Why did we randomly decide we can row at twice the speed?" joked Douwe. Matt, risking nerve damage, took to the cox seat with theatrical flag bearing flair on the row home. Meanwhile, Rory crabbing 362 times in stroke confirmed what we all knew: there’s only one seat he’s built for.  And finally, the moment that Eddies crews of 2025 became etched in college rowing immortality, in the words of the CUCBC cannon gods "DEFEND YOUR EARS":
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