Cambridge Celebrates Success with Four Medals at Regatta Sveti Duje 2025
In the stunning Split sunshine, Cambridge celebrated a four medal haul at Regatta Sveti Duje 2025, taking golds in the men’s university eights, women’s legends, and men’s legends and silver in the women’s university eights. CUBC Club Chair and European Rowing President Annamarie Phelps was on-hand to present the medals, having earlier that day signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the European University Sports Association (EUSA) and the European Rowing Confederation (ERC), to co-operate to further university sport, specifically rowing, across Europe.
The Club would like to thank the organisers of the Regatta Sveti Duje for their generous hospitality and our opponents for some excellent racing.
University Eights – Men
Stroke: Matthew Edge
7: Joe Travis
6: Gabriel Mahler
5: Thomas Marsh
4: Simon Nunayon
3: Ben Rutherford
2: Connor Attridge
Bow: Matthew Morgan
Cox: Isabella Fiske-Harrison
Race Report: Joe Travis and Matt Edge
The Croatian sun bore down on the lively waters of the Spinut Bay for the 23rd annual Regatta Sveti Duje Saturday 10 May. In the final heat of the morning, the Cambridge men’s crew earned their spot in the A-final with the fastest time and a 2 length win over De Hoop of Amsterdam who led the rest of Jagiellonian University (POL), University of Zagreb (HRV), and University of Osijek (HRV). This earned them the coveted middle lane for the final against: Aachen University (DEU), University of Oxford (GBR), De Hoop (NLD), University of Split (HRV), and Imperial College London (GBR). The Cambridge crew was representative of the entire men’s squad, comprised of one current Blue, members of this year’s Goldie crew, and one spare man, all led by lightweight men’s cox Bella Fiske-Harrison.
A strong start from Oxford took them to a 4 seat lead approaching the halfway mark and it looked as if they would slip out to victory when the call came down from Cambridge’s Simon Nunayon to lift it in the neighbouring lane. Cambridge lifted to 40 to stop the Oxford march and inch by inch ate back on their lead. With 200m to go, Oxford responded and checked the move to hold a single seat advantage. Coming into the final quarter, the men found an extra gear to get the bows ahead, crossing the line only a second ahead of Oxford, but ahead nonetheless. At the line, both crews realised the Imperial crew from the far lane had, in fact, been leading until the final sprint and came in only a third of a length behind Oxford to take their second consecutive bronze medal in the series.
University Eights – Women
Stroke: Tash Morrice
7: Samy Morton
6: Sophia Hahn
5: Claire Collins
4: Carys Earl
3: Annie Wertheimer
2: Katy Hempson
Bow: Gemma King
Cox: Jack Nicholas
Race Report: Lucy Havard
On Saturday 10 May, the Cambridge women took to the waters of Split, Croatia, for the 23rd annual Regatta Sveti Duje. A strong crosswind made for some challenging aligning but the crew, comprising the full Women’s Blue Boat, stormed to victory in their first heat, comfortably beating the rest of the field. The final was strongly contested between Cambridge, Oxford, and Imperial College London, with Oxford coming away with the win and Cambridge following closely behind, taking second place in this coveted event.
Race of Legends – Men
Stroke: Marc Webber (MBB 98, OLY 96)
7: Ben Smith (MBB 03)
6: Gabriel Mahler
5: Sebastian Benzecry (MBB 21, 23, 24, GO 22)
4: Simon Nunayon
3: Matt Morgan
2: Matt Edge
Bow: Joe Travis
Cox Matthew Holland (WBB 17, MBB 19)
Coached by Freddie Davidson (MBB 17-20)
Race Report: Matt Edge
The Men’s Race of Legends took place in front of Diocletian’s Palace and the swelling crowds of Split’s old town. The best of three 250m pieces pitted Oxford, Cambridge, and Split against each other. In the first piece, a stellar start from Cambridge saw a strong lead over Oxford, with both walking away from a stationary Split crew who had immediately crashed into the side of the marina. Oxford began to creep back in the second half, but Cambridge’s lead was too much, going to win the piece by a 1/3 length.
The start of the second race erupted in controversy as the Split crew (now in the middle lane for both their and the crowd’s safety) jumped the start and, despite fierce contestation from Oxford and Cambridge, they were not disqualified and the race was recalled to the start line. The warning had not been heeded as they leapt out to an early advantage on the field. Cambridge began to move back on them and won the second race easily. Despite Cambridge’s celebrations at being 2-0 up, thinking they would not need to row again, the umpires showed their favouritism and awarded the second race to Split.
In the final race, Cambridge were determined to right this wrong, and from the first stroke, Marc Webber showed why he remains Donald Legget’s choice for greatest Cambridge strokeman of all time. The Cambridge crew glided effortlessly to half slide and the boat sang in harmony. True poetry in motion. This was the best of the contests, with all boats side by side the whole way down the 250m track, but it was a righteous Cambridge crew that soared to a half length victory to lift the coveted Trophy of Legends.
Race of Legends – Women
Stroke: Lucy Havard
7: Gemma King
6: Tash Morrice
5: Annie Wertheimer
4: Katy Hempson
3: Samy Morton
2: Carys Earl
Bow: Claire Collins
Cox: Jack Nicholas
Race Report: Lucy Havard
On Sunday 11 May, the Cambridge women took part in the first ever women’s ‘Legends Race’. Compared to the 1km race on Saturday, this race was a sprint, just 250m, the best of three between Oxford and Cambridge. Cambridge dominated, and produced some blistering starts, winning the first two sprints. Cambridge were therefore declared the victors of the Legends’ Race, without having to race a third time. They were presented with their gold medals in the majestic setting of Diocletian’s Palace.