The 1970's

Extract from Chapter XIII of A History of St Catherine's Rowing 1875-1999

[Extract from the College Magazine]

1976 St Catherine's Year

St Catherine's Day this year proved to be a most auspicious day for the Boat Club as it marked the launching of the new college `four', given to the College by Ben Sylvester Jr. to commemorate Censor V. J. K. Brook.

Lord Bullock officially launched the new boat, which was then rowed by four contemporaries of Censor Brook and Ben Sylvester (W. C. Wright, D. Barton, T. Hancox and T. T. Coulson with C. G. Kaye coxing), who, to the delight and admiration of those watching from the Barge, proved that they could still handle the boat as well as any present members of the College.

As was the case during the last academic year, the main event for the Boat Club this year proved to be Summer Eights. Five St Catherines's boats were on the river, including for the first time, a ladies' Eight. In the Second Division the 1st VIII rowed over on all four days. Tristram Sutton having rowed for Isis in his first two terms, came into the boat and proved to be a tower of strength. The ladies, under the organisation of Christine Maggs, with the experience of two University oarswomen, Kim Adams and Pauline Symonds, proved that in the Ladies' Division, organised for the first time this year, St Catherine's will be a force to be reckoned with.

Photo: The first St Catherine's women's VIII, Eights 1976. Crew: Pauline Symonds (bow), Christine Maggs, Gill Smith, Kate Halson, Robin Throssel, Hilary Arnold, Nicole Socher, Kim Adams (str), [cox not identified].