Cambridge University Women's Boat Club
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Cambridge University Women's Boat Club (CUWBC) is the University rowing club for women at the University of Cambridge. CUWBC field three crews to race against Oxford in the Henley Boat Races, these are the Blue Boat — the women's heavyweight VIII, the Lightweight Boat — the women's lightweight VIII and Blondie — the Women's Heavyweight reserve crew.
[edit] Early days of the CUWBC
Women began rowing on the River Cam in the 19th century, mainly from Newnham College Boat Club, but only on a recreational level. Newnham competed against the Oxford University Women's Boat Club (OUWBC) from 1927 until 1939. For the first few "races", the two crews were not permitted to be on the river at the same time, and the winner was largely determined on style merit marks, rather than boat speed. The first side-by-side racing started in 1935.
The first blues were awarded in 1941, when CUWBC raced against OUWBC. All of the rowers in 1941 were members of Newnham. The following year, the first non-Newnham rower competed.
In 1962, the CUWBC rowed in the men's bumps races, in the 8th division. CUWBC succeeded in bumping a men's crew only 7 times (in both the Lent and May Bumps) in the 12 years that they competed, often being bumped very quickly, and on one occasion getting triple-overbumped. CUWBC last competed in the bumps in 1973 - the following year, the first dedicated women's bumping races began.
Until the foundation of the Cambridge University Combined Boat Club (CUCBC) in the mid-1990s, the CUWBC controlled the rules and races for all women's rowing. The CUWBC rules often differed from the rules for the men, which were governed by the Cambridge University Boat Club (CUBC). Eventually, as the number of women rowing increased to rival that of the men, the CUCBC was founded to bring all college rowing under the control of a single entity, leaving the CUWBC to concentrate on the Henley Boat Races.
