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History
Among the Colleges of Oxford and Cambridge, Magdalen College Boat Club has a distinguished history that bears comparison with the best of British rowing. Founded in 1859, quite late by Oxford standards, it quickly made its mark locally and on the wider rowing scene.
Magdalen rose to the top five on the river in both Torpids and Summer Eights within three years. They first went Head of Summer Eights in 1880, and remarkably remained in the top three on the river until the First World War. This ‘golden period’ for the club also contained a run of four consecutive Headships from 1892-1895. The 1908 Olympic coxless four was entirely drawn from Magdalen and won gold; furthermore 8 of the 9 members of the Gold medal winning 1912 Olympic Eight were also from Magdalen.
At Henley Royal Regatta, Magdalen also has a distinguished record winning the Grand Challenge Cup four times, the Steward's six times, the Goblets three times, the Diamond sculls eleven times, the Visitor's four times and the Wyfold and Ladies' once each.
Having held 19 Headships in the 20th Century, 2004 saw a return to past glories as Magdalen reclaimed the Summer Eights Headship which was held for the next four years, equalling the run from 1892-1895. 2008 saw the Torpids Headship regained for the first time since 1937, giving Magdalen a run of five consecutive years at the Head of one or other competition.
In its 150 year history, Magdalen has always maintained extremely strong links with the University squads, and has produced 161 Blues and 69 Half Blues, a record matched by only a handful of other colleges.
Mark Blandford-Baker has written a book on the history of Magdalen College Boat Club as part of the club's 150th anniversary. Copies can be ordered through him directly by either email: mark.blandford-baker@magd.ox.ac.uk or telephone: 01865 276050.
Sir Harcourt Gold: the only person knighted for services to rowing before Sir Steve Redgrave.
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