Oriel’s victorious Men’s 1st rowing team hit a swan on their way to becoming Head of the River during the Summer XIIIs competition.
Phil McCullough, Secretary of Oxford University Rowing Clubs, said, “On Wednesday 23rd May, on the first day of Summer Eights, Oriel made contact with a female swan on green bank. OURCs used a launch to track the injured swan and contacted a local swan charity, Swan Lifeline.
“Under the instruction of the charity volunteer, OURCs used both of their launches and a number of committee to assist in the safe capture of the injured swan so that it could receive veterinary attention.”
The swan was found after a one and a half hour search and had to have its broken wing amputated. It now lives in Cuckoo Weir Island, a swan sanctuary in Windsor run by Swan Lifeline.
McCullough continued, “OURCs makes all efforts to avoid collisions with swans, and all events include the contingency for halting racing should a collision be likely. On Thursday, one race was halted to prevent a collision between a racing crew and a swan.
“Unfortunately, in this instance, a swan that had been safely tucked into the bank appears to have moved sufficiently to be struck by the Oriel crew before anything could be done to prevent it.”
“OURCs would like to thank Swan Lifeline for their rescue of the swan and will be making a donation to the charity in the near future.”
All unmarked, wild mute swans are legally property of the Crown and therefore injuring a swan can amount to criminal damage, an offence which has been successfully prosecuted in recent years.
Ben Mansfield, Men’s Captain of Boats at Oriel College Boat Club, commented, “I would prefer to focus on the fact that we won the 2012 Headship and were absolutely delighted to do so.
“On Wednesday it was regrettable that we hit a swan. The field of view for our cox is quite limited as she sits low in the boat with a 6’2′ Dutchman a metre directly in front of her, so she only saw it moments before it struck our bow and three of our bowside blades, mine included.
Mansfield added, “There has been no fine levied by OURCs and I have not heard of any wider ranging repercussions.”
Austin Elwood, Men’s Captain of Pembroke College Rowing Club, who were attempting to bump Oriel for all four days of Summer Eights, commented, “If the racing line isn’t clear, either being blocked by a swan, other boat or swimmer, then it is up to the marshal nearby to communicate this to race desk and, if necessary, klaxon the division.
“No matter how much Pembroke would have wanted to take the headship, we most certainly would not have wanted to do this on the back of a penalty bump.”
Oriel’s Boat Club is the club with the most outstanding fines, owing £460 to the OURCs. This is £285 more than any other club owing fines.
