Fairbairns

With thanks to JCBC

Steve Fairbairn is arguably one of the most influential characters in the history of Jesus College Boat Club and Cambridge rowing. From 1875-1886 they maintained the Mays Headship for no fewer than 11 consecutive years and, in 1885, won the Grand at Henley.

In 1904 Steve Fairbairn returned from Australia and introduced swivel gates and sliding seats to the design permitted for the college Bumps and the ‘Varsity Boat Race’.

It was shortly after the founding of the Thames Tideway Head that Fairbairn decided that a similar race was needed to add focus to the Michaelmas term for the Jesus oarsmen who were not involved in University Trial Eights or University Fours. Therefore, in 1927, he arranged a provisional Lents line up and raced the crews off each other over the longest distance possible on the Cam – from the Fort St George to Little Bridge (2.9 miles or 4660m). In 1929 the race was opened to all colleges and Steve Fairbairn donated a Cup – the ‘Fairbairn Cup Races’ were founded. In 1976 a Women's event was started, and due to the pressure of numbers a Novice division was added in 1983.

Course Records   
Men’s Novice VIIIsJesus Flagpole to Railings2000Jesus09:13
Women’s Novice VIIIsJesus Flagpole to Railings2001LMBC10:51
Men’s Senior VIIIsJesus Flagpole to Little Bridge2000Emmanuel12:46
Women’s Senior VIIIsJesus Flagpole to Little Bridge2000Trinity Hall14:58
Men’s Senior IVsJesus Flagpole to Red Grind2001Magdalene09:30
Women’s Senior IVsJesus Flagpole to Red Grind2001Trinity Hall11:58