Olivia Pegge and Phoebe Forward

University College is incredibly proud to have been represented during the 2026 Boat Race events by two current College athletes.

Olivia Pegge (2024, Earth Sciences) and Phoebe Forward (2025, Psychology) represented Oxford University Boat Club in races that took place on Friday 3 April and Saturday 4 April.

Olivia Pegge, who had been selected for the Oxford Women’s Lightweight Crew, took her position in 3 seat during the Oxford Women’s Lightweights race on Friday 3 April. Phoebe Forward represented Oxford as stroke in the Oxford Women’s Reserve Crew (Osiris) in the Women’s Reserve Race which took place shortly after the Women’s Boat Race on Saturday 4 April.

Paolo Cicuta

Paolo Cicuta (2021, Chemistry), a Univ Old Member who is currently completing a DPhil in Chemistry at Worcester College, was also on the water as stroke in the Oxford Men’s Reserve Crew (Isis).

While the Women’s Lightweight and Women’s and Men’s Reserve Races were won by Cambridge, the Oxford Women’s Crew were victorious in the Women’s Boat Race for the first time since 2016.

Both Olivia and Paolo learnt to row with University College Boat Club under the guidance of Jono Cheesman. When asked what inspired her about sport, Olivia said: “Injuries aside, for the most part you get out what you put in effort-wise – it is truly rewarding in that sense. Also, especially for rowing, you build something over a long time as a team and then can present your hard work at the start line.” Phoebe also commented that she is inspired by “unique people coming together for a unified goal.”

The University College Boat Club (UCBC) community will come together to celebrate College rowing at this year’s Summer Eights, which will take place from Wednesday 27 to Saturday 30 May 2026. On Saturday 30 May, UCBC will host a 30-year reunion for those who were club members between 1995 and 1998 to coincide with their Eights dinner. All past and present members of UCBC are welcome to join Eights dinner.

The Boat Club will also host their annual Martlet Regatta and BBQ on Sunday 31 May, which is open to all alumni and their families. You can register your interest for either of these events here and more details will follow on the College event page in due course.

Published: 13 April 2026

Explore Univ on social media