Christ’s students will take part in the famous Oxford/Cambridge Boat Races over the weekend of 12-13 April 2025.
Final year medic Katy Hempson is Bow in the Women’s Blue Boat which will race on the Championship Course on the River Thames on Sunday 13 April.
Eugenie Dodds, a 3rd year studying Law, will race the day before in seat 3 as a member of the Lightweight crew.
And Alex Tocher, studying for a PhD in Astronomy, will be in the Men’s Lightweight Spare Pair (informally known as the ‘Granta’ pair) who race on Wednesday 9 April.
All three learned to row as students at Christ’s with Katy crediting Alex with teaching her how to scull.
The students will train on the Tideway in the days ahead of their races. Katy, who raced for the women’s reserve crew, Blondie, last year and the lightweights in 2023, said:
“It’s a really good opportunity to get into the mindset and get ready for what we'll be doing. Things tend to come together in Boat Race week.”
Eugenie, who will compete in the Boat Races for the first time, said:
“Every now and then it sort of hits me that I actually have the race in a few days’ time. I’m excited, but I think I’m going to get more excited as we move to London.”
Both women may also have to find a little time for revision because, as finalists, they have exams in May.
After that, Eugenie has a vacation scheme programme with a US law firm lined up for the summer and Katy will be moving to the northeast to begin work as a Junior Doctor.
Alex, who joined Christ’s in 2017 and is writing up his thesis on early Universe star formation, said, “I’m thinking about doing rowing coaching more seriously because I really enjoy it.”
You can watch the Boat Race Live on BBC1 on Sunday 13 April. The Women’s Race is at 13.21. The other races will be posted on the Boat Race YouTube Channel soon after the events.
Katy said:
“We try to be as fast as we can on the day and if that's enough then amazing. If not, as long as we’ve put in our best race, that’s all we can do.”
