Geoff takes to the water

By William Fawcett 1min read

On Friday 3 December, rowers past and present from Homerton College Boat Club (HCBC) celebrated the naming of its latest boat, "Geoff". The former Principal, Professor Geoff Ward, officially named the boat with a spray of champagne. 

"I am touched to have had a new boat named after me," he said. "I wish our excellent rowers many years of success and pleasure on the water with ‘Geoff’."

Around 40 members of the boat club attended the ceremony, which was led by senior treasurer Dr William Fawcett and club captain James Burrows. 

The boat club will make good use of the new 4+, which will be used to take part in races with fours, and also will allow smaller crews to train, which is especially important outside of term time. 

Earlier in the day, the students had competed in the Fairbairn Cup races, with one boat in both the senior men's and women's divisions. Both teams raced well, with the women finishing 24/60 in their division and 14th out of women's first crews, and the men having a faster time than the four boats ahead of them in the Lent Bumps - watch out if you're from one of those Colleges, Homerton is coming for you! The previous day the club had also fielded two novice men's boats and one novice women's boat. 

Later that evening, celebrations were held in the clubhouse, as well as a general meeting of the boat club, where James Burrows was officially elected as the overall club captain.