Building the future of rowing at Christ's
Christ's College Boathouse, built in 1887, is the oldest wooden-framed boathouse on the River Cam and a cherished asset of the College. For over a century it has been at the heart of the Boat Club's training and social events, and the starting point for many lifelong friendships.
This community is behind every student, and with these phenomenal new facilities the Boat Club can continue to flourish.
Grace McGregor (Christ's, 2012)
But to meet the needs of a twenty-first century rowing club, it needed major refurbishments.
In 2012, the College launched a major fundraising campaign to make much-needed upgrades and expansions to the Boathouse. These included providing adequate separate women's changing facilities, communal areas for crews to meet and socialise, and increased space for essential land training equipment.
Alumni and supporters successfully raised over £1.2M towards the Boathouse redevelopment. Thanks to their remarkable generosity, the newly refurbished and renamed Blyth-McGregor Boathouse opened in May 2018.
This new state-of-the-art rowing facility was renamed after two Boat Club alumni, William Blyth (Christ's, 1829) and Grace McGregor (Christ's, 2012). William was the first Boat Club Captain and the stroke seat when Christ's College became Head of the River for the first time in 1833. Grace was Captain in 2015 and in the four seat of the first women's crew to become Head of the River.
Speaking at the opening of the Boathouse, Grace said:
"I'm honoured to represent the women's Boat Club with the Clan McGregor name. Tradition is alive, and support from all members of College, past, present, Boat Club or football team, is testament to the enduring community spirit at Christ's. This community is behind every student, and with these phenomenal new facilities the Boat Club can continue to flourish."
Since opening, the new boathouse has ensured that the Boat Club continues to flourish and Christ's students have the opportunity and facilities to participate in rowing at all levers - from learning to row to undertaking elite-level training. Speaking about the importance of her rowing exeperience at Christ's, 2021/22 Captain, Katy Hempson said:
“Rowing for me has been a way to balance the academic commitments of my degree, meet friends from across the University and throughout Christ’s, and has provided me with brilliant memories and friends that will be the highlight of my time at university. It is a sport where I have been able to progress from getting in a boat the first time as a fresher, to being Captain, and now trialling for CUBC to represent Cambridge.”
Contact
To find out more about how you can support Christ's College, please contact:
Related stories
Philanthropic giving is at the heart of the success of the Collegiate University, enabling us to make discoveries that change the world and to ensure that our students receive an unrivalled education. Cambridge owes its world-leading excellence in research and teaching to the generosity of its supporters. Our history is synonymous with a history of far-sighted benefaction, and the same is as true today as it has ever been.
Giving opportunities
Philanthropic giving is at the heart of the success of the Collegiate University, enabling us to make discoveries that change the world and to ensure that our students receive an unrivalled education.
