The largest society in St John’s, the Lady Margaret Boat Club (LMBC) invites all members of College to pick up an oar and experience the most historical Oxbridge sport. Founded in 1825, the LMBC is also the oldest boat club on the Cam and has been the setting of countless friendships and triumphant memories, eliciting a loyalty like no other. We hope that former members will continue to encourage the successes of the LMBC by ensuring that financial struggles don’t limit the competitive edge of its rowers.
Learn more about the latest crews and committee members on the LMBC website.
What the LMBC means to me…
LMBC has defined my time at St John’s in so many ways. I had not been sporty at all in school and did not think much would come from trying out rowing when I arrived at Cambridge. However, from my first session as a novice all the way up to stroking M1 to double headship, I learned to revel in the countless hours on the river and adored bonding with each and every one of my crews. The club has given me a sport I adore, an incredible community, lifelong friends and the honour of being Captain- something I will always remember. The Lady Margaret Boat Club is a beautiful institution. I am extremely thankful to all those who have donated to keep that beauty alive.
Theo Langslow (2021), Philosophy – Men’s Captain 2023/24
Over my 6 years at St Johns, I have so many incredible memories from my time with LMBC. It has filled me with pride to see the whole club going from strength to strength each season, with the opportunities and support the club can provide to it’s members growing every year. For so many members, myself included, the club is one of the most important components of their university years, providing an opportunity to not only learn a completely new sport, but to make friends for life.
The sense of camaraderie amongst a crew; summer evening rows along the Cam; the nerves when the may bumps cannon fires; and the joy of boat club dinners are truly amongst my most treasured memories from my time at St Johns. With the continued generous support from College, Alumni, and the LMBCA, I hope that countless future Johnians will have the same incredible experiences and play their part in the history of LMBC.
Jo Matthews (2018), Medicine – Honorary Secretary 2021-2024, Boat Race winner 2024
Supporting the LMBC
Training camps give the opportunity for novices to progress to the senior squads and allow them to completely focus on rowing and participate regardless of their financial circumstances.
In Cambridge, coaches of the highest calibre are needed to ensure that squads benefit from the strongest expertise year-round.
As much as rowing ability matters, equipment can make athletes row better, go faster and truly reach their physical potential. Competitive racing (most particularly the Bumps) put equipment through immense wear and tear, and St John’s endeavours to replace blades, boats and land-training machines on a rolling old-for-new basis.
During the Bicentenary of the LMBC in 2025, we’ll be raising £750,000 to secure a legacy of excellence for Maggie.
The boathouse was last renovated 25 years ago, and in recent years the LMBC has faced increasing pressure on its facilities. With up to 13 eights training out of the boathouse (including Robinson College crews), the current 16 ergs are insufficient to meet the needs of our athletes. The impact of climate change, resulting in more frequent high winds and dangerous river conditions, has made indoor training essential. Without this renovation, our ability to provide effective training in all conditions will be severely compromised.
The aim is clear: to create a more functional, future-proofed boathouse that enhances athletic performance, supports year-round training and strengthens camaraderie among our teams. By maximising the use of the existing boathouse footprint, we will unlock its potential as a hub for excellence in rowing.
The planned renovation will focus on practical improvements that directly enhance LMBC’s rowing programme:
– Expanded erg space, increasing capacity to 24 machines
– Improved lighting and ventilation
– Optimising weight training facilities
– Reconfiguring underutilised areas
Subject to additional funding, we also hope to install low/zero-carbon heating and hot water systems, renovate the Captains’ Room and reconfigure the standalone boat store.
By supporting the Bicentenary Appeal you will help transform the boathouse, allowing us to adapt the LMBC’s facilities to the demands of modern rowing while respecting our iconic heritage.
The LMBC Current Use Fund supports a range of costs each year, including crew training camps and race entry fees, transportation and accommodation for the Henley regattas and other off-Cam races.
Expenditure examples:
– Subsidised training camps cost £1,000 per side per year.
– Blades for a crew cost £3,500.
– Race entries on the Cam (including Bumps) cost £4,000 per year.
– Race entries off the Cam (including Henley) cost £6,000 per year .
– Boats: a new VIII costs £35,000 and a IV shell costs £20,000.
The Annual Fund has supported the LMBC in recent years through the purchase of racing shells.
The LMBC Endowment is an investment pot from which the annual distribution is used to cover significant annual expenditure, such as the constant upkeep of the Boathouse and the salaries of a full-time Boatman and a part-time professional coach for the teams competing at a higher level. Give to this fund to guarantee the future security of the LMBC.
Sponsors finance the more modest day-to-day Club expenditures in a given year. These include smaller equipment items, weights training at the University gym, British rowing membership and overnight accommodation for visiting coaches. Previous supporters have been Oliver Wyman and D E Shaw.
The LMBC looks for companies to support the club for at least one academic year. Businesses can look forward to their name emblazoned on the back of all kit, visible at every race. If your company would like to do a good deed and benefit from the tax breaks of supporting an educational charity, email development@joh.cam.ac.uk.
Give to the Lady Margaret Boat Club
Your donations help with the purchase of essential training equipment, facilitate training camps and secure the most experienced professional coaches. To support the LMBC please follow our ‘donate’ button and select ‘Other’ from the dropdown menu and type in ‘LMBC Current Use’ or ‘LMBC Endowment’.
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