The people behind the club

Meet the Committee

The students and coaches who run Jesus College Boat Club — keeping crews on the water, races organised and the boathouse buzzing.

Leading the club

A word from the President

President 2026–27

Emma Tabernacle

Hi! I’m Emma, and I am the JCBC President. I’m a third-year Chemistry PhD student, and this will be my sixth year rowing with the club after learning as a novice during my undergraduate degree (apparently I never figured out how to leave).

Last year I had the privilege of serving as Lower Boats Captain for the second time, which has been one of the most rewarding parts of my time at Jesus. Highlights included captaining four boats in May Bumps, including the first ever W6 VIII, and seeing three novice crews enjoy a hugely successful Michaelmas term (we don’t talk about Emma Sprints). I’ve loved watching complete beginners gain confidence, make lifelong friends, and discover a sport that will become a defining part of their time in Cambridge.

One of the things that makes JCBC special is that, as the largest boat club on the Cam, we can offer opportunities for every level of rowing. Our first boats are consistently competitive, with several rowers trialling for CUBC each year, including people who first learnt to row at Jesus. At the same time, we’re just as proud of every novice’s first outing, every lower boat bump, and every personal milestone along the way, because every crew plays an important part in what makes the club so successful.

What has kept me at JCBC for six years isn’t just the rowing. The sense of community, the dedication of our coaches and committee, and the support of generations of alumni make this a very special club to be part of. I’m looking forward to building on that this year as we celebrate our bicentenary, support every crew, and make sure JCBC continues to be a place where everyone can thrive.

Leadership

Captains

Men's Captain

Thomas McCarter

Hi, I’m TJ, the Men’s Captain of JCBC next year. I am a second-year Chemical Engineering PhD student and will be going into my seventh year rowing in Cambridge next year.

Last year I really enjoyed the challenge of rowing with Jesus M1. Working together and getting to know everyone on the men’s and open side is one of my favourite memories, and was one of the main reasons for me running to be Men’s Captain. I can’t wait to lead the men’s and open side next year and work with lots of people from a range of backgrounds and abilities. I am particularly excited to repeat the fun activities from last year, such as going to Seville for a training camp and competing at the top of the divisions in bumps.

Most of all, I look forward to helping lead the men’s and open side to a successful campaign! With our high position at both bumps races, thanks to our successful campaigns last year, and a squad of current and incoming talented rowers, I am really confident we will do well!

Women's Captain

Katy Bradley

Hi! I’m Katy, and I am the Women’s Captain for this exciting upcoming Bicentenary year. I learned to row on the Cam back in 2021, and have been physically unable to drag myself away since. I have absolutely loved becoming a part of JCBC over this last year — it has been a joy to get to know everyone and be inspired by such strong and determined athletes. Highlights have included defending both our Lents and May headships, fielding an incredible 6 women’s boats in the Mays, our annual training camp in Seville, and getting to race off-Cam, from the Tideway to the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham.

As Women’s Captain, I have overall responsibility for the women’s squad, with special focus on the training and racing of the women’s first boat. I’m so excited to lead the squad this year as we build on the incredible success we’ve enjoyed in recent seasons and celebrate such a landmark year in the club’s history.

Whether you’re an experienced rower or have never stepped into a boat before, there’s a place for you at JCBC. Here’s to another year of chasing bumps, chasing 2k PBs, and occasionally chasing rowers who have slept through their alarms!

Coxing Captain

Arzoo Iqbal

I’m the loudest person in the boat, and arguably everywhere else too. As Coxing Captain, I’m responsible for looking after the club’s coxswains, from recruiting newcomers to supporting experienced coxes. One of the best parts of the role is watching people grow in confidence and become an integral part of their crew, and one of my main goals this year is to make coxing as welcoming and enjoyable as possible. There’s always something new to learn, no matter how much experience you have. With this year marking JCBC’s bicentenary, I’m especially excited to be part of such a significant chapter in the club’s history and can’t wait to see what our coxes and crews achieve, both on and off the water.

Second in command

Vice-Captains

Running the second boats, and keeping the squads moving.

Men's Vice-Captain

Finn Foley

I’m a third-year Geography student and have rowed with JCBC from Freshers’ Week. I rowed with M2 in Michaelmas and Lent last year and loved the experience racing against other clubs’ first boats, proving the depth of talent in the club. After a brief hiatus due to injury (rowing may have broken my body but not my spirit) I look forward to rowing with the boys again and bringing newly acquired coaching skills to the role.

Ingrid did not choose this photo

Women's Vice-Captain

Ingrid Berg

I am a second-year Phys NatSci and, more importantly, Women’s Vice-Captain at JCBC this year! I’m known for juggling all this with singing in the Jesus choir, which leads to me being very vocal in the boat. The good thing is that W2 is friendly and fun enough that they don’t mind, and have given me their votes of confidence to run W2 as smoothly as possible next year. But don’t let the fun deceive you: as fastest W2 on the river, we train and row at a similar standard to most other W1s and have a fierce competitive streak. Next year we have the chance to bump into the first division in both the Lents and Mays, and rest assured that I will be working hard to make that happen.

Learning to row

Lower Boats Captains

The people who look after our novices, and your first point of contact if you're new to the club. All eight share one inbox: jcbc-lbcaptains@jcsu.jesus.cam.ac.uk.

Men’s & Open side

Men's Lower Boats Captain

Will Sutcliffe

Hello! I’m Will, a second year Economics student, and I learned to row at Jesus last year. I remember the early days of rowing feeling a mix of new, exciting, daunting, and uncertain, but by the end of first year I had an amazing experience rowing in Bumps and have made some great friends throughout JCBC. Being Lower Boats Captain this year, I hope to share this journey with our new round of novices, building accountability and perseverance to create a positive, energised, and supportive culture in the boathouse and on the water!

Men's Lower Boats Captain

Archie Barrell

Hey, I’m Archie and I’m one of the LBCs for the coming year. I’ve been sculling for 5 years now (still not managed to escape rowing!), and have been coaching at my club off the Cam for 2. I’m here to answer any questions you have about getting into the sport and to hopefully hook you into sculling too!

Men's Lower Boats Captain

Theo Sturman

Hi! I’m Theo and I’m one of your LBCs this year. I’m a second-year Phys NatSci and I noviced in first year. It’ll be my job to help arrange all things novice, so if you’re new to the club you’ll probably see a lot of me. Rowing at Jesus has been one of my favourite parts of Cambridge so far, even if my bumps record hasn’t been great!

Men's Lower Boats Captain

Freddie Metcalfe

Hi, I’m Fred, one of your LBCs for this year! I’m a second-year Music student; people have a lot to say about my degree until I’m putting down a narsty rhythm. I can’t wait to see what we can achieve this year!

Women’s side

Women's Lower Boats Captain

Amy Dunbavin

Hi! I’m Amy, a second-year undergraduate studying Human, Social and Political Sciences. I started rowing last year and absolutely loved it. I am excited to welcome new rowers into JCBC and to share my passion and energy. When I’m not rowing, or in Cambridge, you will usually find me at the beach, swimming or surfing. Though rowing is slightly less relaxing than being at the beach, I love the community it brings and how much it pushes me to improve in all areas of my life.

Women's Lower Boats Captain

Ellen Bridson

After a grand total of one year of rowing under my belt, I decided to help nurture the next generation of JCBC rowers by becoming an LBC.

My oldest-sibling energy, background in leading sports teams, and Best 3 Seat award for the 2025/26 season have primed me to hit the ground running with this year’s LBC team, where I will focus on rowers’ welfare and supporting all new rowers on and off the water.

When I’m not rowing or doing my PhD in history, I enjoy a variety of sporting side quests, musing over why years of rugby don’t translate to erg scores, and complaining about my gammy knee.

Women's Lower Boats Captain

Rachael Wilson

I’m Rachael, one of the (many!) Lower Boats Captains, and I’m going into my third (and final!) year of my PhD in Stem Cell Biology. My job is to convince unsuspecting freshers that voluntarily getting up before sunrise to row in the cold is, somehow, a good idea — and actually fun! Once they’re hooked, I help train, encourage, and occasionally reassure them that everyone catches crabs at first, all while pretending I know exactly what I’m doing. My aim is to make JCBC as welcoming, supportive, and fun as possible while helping the next generation of rowers build confidence, improve quickly, and hopefully spend more time moving forwards than sideways.

Women's Lower Boats Captain

Mimi Gu

Hi! I’m Mimi, a second-year Bio NatSci, and I’m super excited to be one of your LBCs this year! I learnt to row a year ago and have thoroughly enjoyed everything that came with it, from the friendly community at JCBC to our weekly erg sessions and our various socials. This bicentenary year, I hope to encourage more people to get involved with this sport and love it as much as we do!

Behind the scenes

Officers & Secretaries

Treasurer

Jake Hawkes

I’m Jake, a third-year MML student on my year abroad this year, in Brazil and France. I thoroughly enjoyed rowing in my first two years, and have taken on the role of treasurer to keep connected with JCBC while I’m away this year. As treasurer, I am in charge of managing the budget of the boat club. I manage income from sources like Fairbairns, as well as expenditure on things like race entries and the annual training camp. This year being the bicentenary year, there might be some room for some extra things like bicentenary stash, so watch out!

Secretary

Madison Ross

I am a third-year Chemistry PhD student and excited to be JCBC Secretary this year! I sort race entries, organise BCD and Buftie Hall, and help keep the club running behind the scenes. I learned to row at Jesus in my first year and have loved racing with my crews here (plus that time I struggled through the Great Ouse Marathon in a single as a novice sculler. Rewarding? Yes. Traumatic? Also yes.). In my free time, I run, I paint, I accidentally kill fish, and then I row in fish-themed fancy dress (RIP Phoebe Phish, Jack, Nugget, Millie, and the Little Dipper(s)).

Fairbairn's Secretary

Vova Chub

As Fairbairn’s Secretary I am responsible for everything directly related to the Fairbairn Cup 2026. FC is the longest single-distance head race on the River Cam, with rich history and traditions. FC26 is the special edition of FC dedicated to the bicentenary of JCBC. A member of M4, W1.5 and everything in between. A proud owner of a spoon (in view of Mays 26 I would like to emphasise the “a”). A small man according to Martin and JC.

Webmaster

Grace Skinner

I’m the new webmaster, now in charge of capturing everyone’s best and worst moments and preserving them on the Instagram (@jesuscollegeboatclub) and website. I started rowing in 2024 — came for the free BBQ and stayed for the sport and the people. I’ve rowed with W2 and W3, with aims of stroking literally any boat this year!

Social Secretary

Amanda Stoffers

Hi, I’m Amanda, a final-year Astrophysics PhD. Three years ago I joined the boat club; somewhere along the way it became my entire personality. Collecting committee roles like webmaster, captain and crew dinner cook has become my main side quest. This year I’m your social secretary, stash officer, and the one rebuilding the website. Looking forward to seeing you at all the socials this year!

Social Secretary

Flynn Bizzell

My name is Flynn Bizzell. I am a second-year PhD student in infection and immunity. I am the social sec of the boat club, which involves organising “swaps” with other colleges, socials, pub crawls, BBQs and many other events, with pretty much all socials open jointly to the men’s and open side and the women’s side. I hold the club record for the fastest pint chopper (2.8 seconds), and I am a strong campaigner for a pint-adjusted 2 km erg score (PAES). When I am not rowing on the Cam or sleeping in a field at Henley, you can find me pole dancing for Cambridge University Pole Sports (CUPS).

Welfare Officer

Elena Ruddy

I’m Elena, an undergrad chemist and cox, which means I alternate between stirring chemicals and steering boats. This is my fourth year at JCBC, which makes me a very familiar voice down a microphone around the boathouse. As one of this year’s welfare officers I am a point of contact for all members of the club, aiming to make rowing at Jesus as enjoyable and supportive an environment as possible. Keeping the changing rooms stocked with essential rowing supplies is also part of my remit, as well as topping up the JCBC suncream reservoir.

Welfare Officer

Marleen Wölke

PhD student studying pancreatic cancer biology by day, rower by… also day, basically whenever the lab allows it. I joined JCBC two years ago and rowed my way through this year’s double headship season with W1. Somehow, against all odds, without crabbing on the start line.

My favourite rowing memory? Beating UEA at Bedford Regatta after they left the crew baking in the heat for what felt like several geological eras. Petty, maybe. Sweet, absolutely.

Happy in any stroke-side seat except stroke itself, and I will die on the hill that a blue fleece counts as valid JCBC race kit. Known to miss the odd outing for only the most legitimate reasons: conferences, uncooperative lab mice, and one memorable incident involving three broken fingers at once.

As this year’s Welfare Officer, I am on a mission to spread the joy of rowing to everyone in the club (fleece and all).

Fundraising Officer

Anastasia Slastikova

Hi, I’m Anastasia — your Sponsorship and Fundraising Officer! I started rowing last year and am excited to support the club in continuing to offer such amazing opportunities to beginners (and hopefully get me enough training so I can one day square in time with everyone else). My role is to liaise with existing sponsors and secure new sponsorship opportunities for the club, as well as to organise fundraising events. If you have any questions or suggestions feel free to get in touch, or you can usually find me recovering from an erg session on the floor of the changing room.

Alumni & Outreach Officer

Lucy Yeadon

Hi, I’m Lucy and I am the Alumni & Outreach Officer. I noviced as a cox in 2025 and I had the best time (despite the early wake-ups) and met amazing people! I will be in charge of ensuring the alumni remain involved and up to date with any news and events, especially during the Bicentenary. I will also focus on outreach to schools, in order to encourage more young people to consider rowing.

Stash Officer

Will Galloway

I’m Will, a second-year Materials Science PhD student. I joined JCBC halfway through my undergraduate degree, and enjoyed it so much I decided I had to do a PhD. With Amanda I am organising stash this year. My claim to fame is that I am the sole reason JC installed the anti-slip panels on the edge of the riverbank.

I am very proud to be part of this club and therefore want to make it possible to demonstrate one’s allegiance no matter the occasion, whether it’s the Tour de France, Great British Bake Off or a job interview. Look forward to an expanded bicentenary stash catalogue!

Stash Officer

Amanda Stoffers

Final-year Astrophysics PhD, three years in the club and counting. I’m also your Social Secretary (see above) and the one rebuilding this website. On stash, I can’t wait to produce the fashion line of the year with Will.

Coaching & mascot

Coaches & the Boathouse Dog

Head Coach

Jonathan Conder

Level-4 British Rowing coach and JCBC Boatman, responsible for the fleet, the boathouse and the club’s safety.

Assistant Coach

Callum Bland

Level-2 qualified, working with crews across the club.

Boathouse Dog

Peaches

Chief morale officer.

Get in touch

Questions for the committee?

Whatever you need — joining, coxing, racing or facilities — someone here is happy to help.