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St John’s rowers successfully defended their top spot in this year’s May Bumps and were crowned Head of the River for the second year in a row.

Having gained the Headship 12 months ago, this year’s men’s first division crew of Ben Fenocchi (captain), David Vahey, Jago Strong-Wright, Harry Fieldhouse, Thomas Marsh, Simon Wannagat, Will Gong, Theo Langslow, and cox Kitty Henderson held off some strong challenges from Caius to secure their victory.

Their win on the River Cam was celebrated on the evening of the final races of the four-day inter-collegiate competition with the traditional burning of a decommissioned wooden boat on the Backs of St John’s. Boat burning takes place when the College’s Lady Margaret Boat Club (LMBC), fondly known as ‘Maggie’, gains or retains Headship, with rowers jumping over the boat while it is on fire.

Theo, Philosophy and Management Studies student, said: “It’s been incredible to defend my legacy as Captain last year when we bumped Caius to Headship and also to end my time rowing for Maggie on such ahigh, with such a wonderful crew and all within an historic year for the club as we celebrate the bicentenary.” 

The boat club – named after Lady Margaret Beaufort, grandmother of Henry VIII and founder of St John’s – was the first boat club in Cambridge when it began in 1825.

St John’s is holding various bicentenary celebrations as LMBC turns 200 years old and is aiming to raise £750,000 to .

Last term, M1 retained the Headship in the Lent Bumps for the sixth year in a row, while W1 bumped up to second place in division one – the highest place the women had been on the river for more than 30 years.

Four men’s boats and three women’s crews from St John’s competed in this year’s May Bumps across the different divisions. The women’s first boat, W1, showed true grit on the water throughout the Bumps, finishing sixth in the women’s first division.

Oldest rowing club in Cambridge celebrates two centuries of power, passion and prestige

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