The College Clubs
The records of the college boat clubs begin in 1825, so presumably rowing flourished for some time before that date. The "Laws of the Monarch Boat Club," the members of which were Trinity College men, still exist.
The rules were very strict, fines being inflicted on any member who absented himself "from his appointed crew and did not provide a substitute for his oar"; or, again, oarsman might incur penalties for "giving orders or speaking on a racing day or on any other day after silence had been an oar from St. John's, and four six oars from Jesus, Caius, Trinity, and Westminster respectively. Crews were, however, as often known by the name of their racing boat as by that of their college. Thus there was a Privateer, a Corsair, a Dolphin, a Black Prince, and the like, all of which contained at times famous combinations. In 1831 the number of boats entered for the races appears to have been thirteen. Bumping was then, as now, the method adopted for deciding the respective merits of the crews. The starting distance between each boat was fixed at 20 yards. From this date college rowing may be considered to have taken the position that it has ever since maintained as the first of university sports.
It was keenly pursued by the undergraduates and recognised by the authorities. On the river the number of boats gradually increased until it became necessary to split them up into two divisions. The headship of the river became a post of no small honour and glory. The longest period for which it has been held by one college is eleven years, Jesus maintaining that honourable position from 1874 to 1884.
Other excellent records of recent years are those made by Trinity Hall from 1885 to 1888 and 1890 to 1897 inclusive.