Tom Bisatt has been awarded the Elis White Memorial Trophy by Oriel College’s Captains of Boats, Bea Frediani and Theo Briscoe. The trophy is awarded annually to the most improved novice over the academic year.
With this year’s recipient in the fifth seat of the men’s second boat, which is the only second boat in a second division at any college, Oriel recently had another successful Summer Eights campaign.
“When we had raced, I felt confident in the hours we had put in to perform to our best,” says Bisatt, who is studying an MEng in Engineering Science.
“Everyone in the Boat Club was really welcoming and I was lucky enough to be rowing on the water frequently from the beginning, which meant I had lots of opportunities to improve,” he adds.
The Elis White Memorial Trophy was created in 2010 in memory of Elis Rhisiart White (1984–2008). White was an undergraduate student at Oriel College and an active member of the Boat Club. He made the crew of the men’s first eight after being introduced to rowing in his first year.