Who are we?

Jonty: I am a third year Engineering student. I took up rowing with PCBC in my first year at college and have raced in the Mays 1st VIII every year since. I have progressed through the CUBC development squad and was then selected for the spare pair in my second year (2018). Later that season, I raced the final of the Prince Albert at Henley Royal Regatta for Goldie, followed by winning the European University Games with the same crew.

Jonathan: Third year medic, second year trialist with CULRC (and current Vice President). I learned to row at PCBC in my first year, and have rowed in every bumps campaign since, rowing in the successful M1 crew in the 2018 Mays campaign. I’m also the Secretary of PCBC, and so stay in touch with my roots while trialling.

Emma: Third year Natural Scientist, and current Vice President for CUWBC. I raced in the winning Blondie crew in 2017 and 2018. In my first year I was injured over summer so coached the first women’s crew leading into bumps, and last year raced in a brilliant W1 campaign which saw us go up 3.

Jack: Third year historian, first year trialist with CUWBC and CULRC. Learned to cox with PCBC, gaining blades for the fifth consecutive year with M3, before working with both men’s and women’s squads in second year. Aimed at stepping up from grass-roots to the elite university level.

Rob. Second year chemical engineer. Rowed in the bow seat of the first victorious Goldie crew for 8 years (2018). I trained with M1 for the 2018 bumps campaign but was struck down by illness in the weeks preceding, so spent the week as a coach on the towpath.

Lily: I am an MPhil student in the Environmental Policy program. This is my first year trialing for CUWBC. I rowed at Yale University for four years prior to Cambridge, and competed with the team USA at the U23 World Championships in 2018. I am excited to be a part of the rowing tradition at Cambridge, and am looking forward to my first Boat Race campaign and rowing with PCBC for bumps. 

Lata : Second year economist, trialling for the lightweights and rowed in the W1 bumps campaign 2018, where we went up 3!

Laura: First year economist, trialling for CUWBC lightweights and very excited about the opportunity to row for college in summer term.

Our Story: From Pembroke blue to light blue

We are eight student trialists at Pembroke working towards advancing opportunities within college rowing directed at succeeding in both Bumps campaigns and Boat Races. Two of us were involved in the clean sweep of 2018, in which every Cambridge boat beat Oxford, the first time since 1996. This year, for the first time, we hope to represent Pembroke across every Blues squad - CUBC, CUWBC, and CULRC.

Sporting excellence comes at a cost. A world-class coaching team, the facilities at Goldie and Ely, race entries, and Race Week accommodation are crucial aspects of the sport, but difficult to fund. We hope to set a precedent for Pembroke trialists; we believe that stable funding makes all the difference here.

Unfortunately, University and College grants are unable to provide the financial support necessary to widen participation at the elite level. Trialists from lower income backgrounds are at an undeniable disadvantage and we believe that there is a real opportunity to make a positive change here. 

We hope that this money will support current trialists and make the process more accessible to other PCBC members who want to step up. Realistically, this cannot be achieved alone. The college network, upon which many of us have relied to reach this stage, is vital as the university boat clubs lack the funds to make the process free.

Where will the money go?

If we reach our minimum funding target, we will split the funds between us in order to cover the costs of trialing for the 2019 season.

If we exceed our target, we will establish a “funding pot” in order to facilitate future years of Pembroke trialists. £20,000 would allow us to give support to rowers for the next five years. 

Our bare minimum costs are as follows:

CUWBC and CULRC

£450 yearly subs

£600 Training Camp in Banyoles

£100 Race week accommodation

CUBC

£300 yearly subs

£500 Training Camp in Banyoles

£50 Training Camp at Dorney (pre race week)

Additional costs

Rent outside of term time, £1000 for 9 weeks September- April

Summer racing costs for Henley Royal, Henley Women’s, and international competitions £200-500

Extra Kit (Ely is cold!) £300

Rewards

We would like to thank everyone who donates to this project, so please check out our rewards, so we can show you our appreciation!

Images and video

Find us here

Please check back to this funding page, or other Pembroke social media accounts, to find out how we're doing!

Help us succeed!

If you would like to help us further, please spread this page to anyone who you think would want to support the development of PCBC athletes, and increase the accessibility of rowing at an elite level. It would be fantastic for us to leave a legacy where future Pembroke athletes can also benefit from this campaign, so the more generous you are, the longer lasting impact it will have.