From 1966-2015 Oriel had won 26 of the last 50 Eights headship - a run of success unprecedented in Oxford's history. 2016 brought with it the chance to draw level with Christ Church on total headships at 32; leaving no dispute over which College is best.
7 weeks of ups and downs culminated in four nerve-racking days of racing. This video shows a snapshot of the journey.
The Headship Crew:
Cox: Betsy Jones
S: Iain McGurgan
7: Stevan Boljevic (c)
6: Alec Trigger
5: Joe Dawson/ Charlie Cornish
4: Rufus Stirling
3: Louis Lamont
2: Sam Salt
B: Henry Shalders
Coach: John Faulkner
The journey wasn't an easy one and we are grateful to everyone who helped us along the way and made it possible:
Matthew & Kristina Gilpin, Simon Bevan, Robin Stainer, Wilf Stephenson, Terry Baker, the Tortoise Club and everybody who subbed in but especially Charlie Thurston and the Oxford lightweights.
This was the first of many headships fuelled by Gilpin's Gin.