Fairbairn Cup

The Fairbairn Cup races are a series of time trials organised by Jesus Boat Club and held on the last Thursday and Friday of Michaelmas term. The Thursday races are for novice VIIIs and Friday's for senior VIIIs and coxed IVs.

The event was devised by Steve Fairbairn, a Jesus College alumnus and rowing guru of the early 20th century, who apparently was a big fan of excessively long races (he is famous for the phrase "mileage makes champions" and establishing the Head of the River Race on the Thames Tideway in London)! In 1927 he raced Jesus College's provisional Lent VIIIs over the full length of the Cam, from the Fort St. George to the Little Bridge. A crew from Sidney, being coached at the time by a rower from Jesus, was invited to race in the 1928 event. More information and full results back to 1998 can be found here.

Thursday

Novice VIIIs over a distance of 2700m from the flagpole outside Jesus' boathouse to the Railings on the Long Reach

Friday

Senior VIIIs over a distance of 4300m from the flagpole outside Jesus' boathouse to the Little Bridge.

Senior IVs over a distance of 3400m from the flagpole outside Jesus' boathouse to the post opposite the Plough.