Merton College Boat Club Shines in Torpids 2025

Merton College Boat Club (MCBC) delivered an outstanding performance at Torpids 2025, held from 26 February to 1 March on the Isis in Oxford. The Women’s First Eight (W1) earned blades, winning a bump on each day of racing, while the Men’s First Eight (M1) climbed to 7th on the river, Merton’s highest position in Torpids since 1966.

It was a campaign of determination, resilience, and history in the making. W1 dominated the competition from the start, securing their first bump against Linacre on Day 1 before charging up the divisions with back-to-back bumps on Corpus Christi and St John’s on Day 2. Day 3 saw them chase down St Catherine’s, completing an overbump after Hilda’s bumped out early. On the final day, W1 sealed their perfect week, earning the coveted blades.

M1, meanwhile, opened the competition with a dramatic first race, twice closing to overlap with Balliol but just missing the bump. They made no mistake on Day 2, executing a decisive bump on Balliol to reach 7th on the river, the highest position Merton’s men have held in nearly six decades. Day 3 brought tactical racing, with M1 rowing over smoothly in both races, avoiding chaos behind them. On the final day, they defended their hard-earned position, securing Merton’s best Torpids finish since 1966.