At Oxford University, Eights Week constitutes the main intercollegiate rowing event of the year, and happens in May. Both men's and women's coxed eights compete in separate divisions for their colleges. Some colleges have as many as five crews for each sex, and there are seven men's and six women's divisions, for a total of 158 boats and around 1400 participants. Including the qualifiers (named 'Rowing On') the number of participants was over 1800 in 2003. The rowing events take place on the Isis part of the River Thames in the 5th week of Trinity term. Crews can progress up their division by bumping the boat in front. The aim is to become "head of the river" and stay in the lead position. Each year's starting position is based on the previous year's finishing position. The University of Oxford, located in the city of Oxford in England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. ... A coxless pair which is a sweep-oar boat. ... The Isis is the name given to the River Thames at Oxford, after the ancient Egyptian goddess Isis. ... The Thames (pronounced //) is a river flowing through southern England and connecting London with the sea. ... Corpus bumps Girton at the 2005 May Bumps in Cambridge A bumps race is a form of rowing race in which a number of boats chase each other in single file; each boat attempts to catch the boat in front without being caught by the boat behind. ...

The University of Cambridge equivalent of Eights Week is the May Bumps. The University of Cambridge (often called Cambridge University), located in Cambridge, England, is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world. ... 1st & 3rd Trinity II about to bump Caius II to go top of the 2nd division on day 2 of the 2005 May Bumps The May Bumps (also May Races, Mays) is a rowing race held on the River Cam in Cambridge. ...

A similar event is Torpids held in the 7th week of Hilary term. At Oxford University, Torpids is one of two bumping races held in the year, the other being Eights. ...

Men's Head of River from 1951

College name Magdalen College Named after Mary Magdalene Established 1458 Sister College Magdalene College President Professor David Clary FRS JCR President Iain Anstess Undergraduates 395 Graduates 230 Homepage Boatclub Magdalen College (pronounced ) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. ... College name Pembroke College Named after The Earl of Pembroke Established 1624 Sister College Queens College Master Giles Henderson JCR President Claire Addison Undergraduates 408 Graduates 94 Homepage Boatclub Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. ... College name Oriel College Named after Blessed Virgin Mary Established 1324 Sister College Clare College, Cambridge Trinity College, Dublin Provost Sir Derek Morris JCR President Frank Hardee Undergraduates 304 Graduates 158 Homepage Boatclub Oriel College (in full: The House of Blessed Mary the Virgin in Oxford commonly called Oriel College... University College (in full, the College of the Great Hall of the University, commonly known as University College in the University of Oxford, usually known by its derivative, Univ), is a contender for the claim to be the oldest of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the... College name New College Named after Blessed Virgin Mary Established 1379 Sister College Kings College Warden Prof. ... College name Keble College Named after John Keble Established 1870 Sister College Selwyn College Warden Prof. ... St Edmund Hall is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. ... College name The Queens College Named after Queen Philippa of Hainault Established 1341 Sister College Pembroke College Provost Sir Alan Budd JCR President Sushrut Yalamanchili Undergraduates 304 Graduates 133 Homepage Boatclub The Queens College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United... College name Balliol College Named after John de Balliol Established 1263 Sister College St Johns Master Andrew Graham JCR President Jack Hawkins Undergraduates 403 Graduates 228 Homepage Boatclub Balliol College, founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. ... College name The House of Scholars of Merton Named after Walter de Merton Established 1264 Sister College Peterhouse Warden Prof. ...

Women's Head of River from 2000

College name New College Named after Blessed Virgin Mary Established 1379 Sister College Kings College Warden Prof. ... College name Pembroke College Named after The Earl of Pembroke Established 1624 Sister College Queens College Master Giles Henderson JCR President Claire Addison Undergraduates 408 Graduates 94 Homepage Boatclub Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. ...

Double Headship

The 'Double Headship' is an accolade awarded to any college finishing Eights Week with both their men's and women's crews at the 'Head of the River' in their respective divisions. Pembroke College is the only college to have achieved Double Headship, having both men and women's crews at the Head of the River in 2003. This has not yet been repeated by another college.

Pembroke College also commissioned a silver 'Double Headship Trophy' in 2003, to commemorate the historic occassion. This remains in their hands to this day.

External links

• Oxford University Rowing Clubs