WORDS ANNIE VERNON // PHOTOGRAPHY BENEDICT TUFNELL
The men, women and lightweights of Cambridge University’s boat clubs have the luxury of access to miles of drained Fenland waterway, and unlike many stretches of the British river network where flooding has become almost an annual feature, the Light Blue crews are rarely forced off the Great Ouse. However, it was off the water where the challenges lay, until recently.
Cambridge University rowing is made up of three clubs, CUBC (Openweight men) CUWBC (Open and Lightweight women) and CULRC (Lightweight men) each with their own coaching and support teams and fleets of boats. In addition to preparing crews for the world-famous varsity races, the students take part in national and international competitions.