University rowing (UK)

Question book-new.svg
 This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2008)

University rowing in the United Kingdom began when it was introduced to Oxford in the late 18th century[citation needed]. The first University Boat Race (between Oxford and Cambridge) was held in 1829. Today, many universities have a boat club and at the collegiate universities, Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, and London, each college has its own club as well as a main university club. In Scotland, the rowing clubs of Glasgow University and Edinburgh University initiated an annual race in 1877, making this competition the second oldest in the United Kingdom. Competitive university rowing in Northern Ireland began in the 1940s with the Wylie Cup; the Welsh Boat Race began in 2006.

BUCS

Crews can get very close to each other when overtaking at BUCS Head

Most universities compete in the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) Championships with a number of events over the year. For non-indoor events, boats are separated into Championship (where "[BUCS] points" are available), Intermediate and Beginner (for students in their first year of the sport).

As of June 16, 2008, UCS (who represented the professional staff working in the sector) and BUSA (the lead body for competitive sport in the sector) have merged to form "BUCS" - British Universities & Colleges Sport. Events from 2008/09 onwards therefore come under the BUCS banner, rather than BUSA, e.g., BUCS Regatta.

BUCS Small Boats Head

The Small Boats Head is held in October. The event was introduced in 2004 and held on the Trent in Nottingham. The event was run in Nottingham every year until 2008 when it was moved to Boston where it now runs in conjunction with the GB Rowing Team 1st Senior/U23 Assessment.

BUCS Indoor Rowing Series

In 2010, BUCS Rowing managed an indoor rowing series at 11 Universities across the UK. Almost 900 students competed a 2000m test and a similar series is planned for 2011.

BUCS Head of the River

A 5 km head race which was held for many years on the River Trent in Nottingham during February or March. In 2009, the decision was made to move the event to the River Nene in Peterborough, and to split the competition into 2 separate days, with Beginners racing on one day, and Seniors racing on the other. However, due to inclement weather, the event was cancelled. The event was again held in Peterborough in 2010, 2011 and 2012, and was due to be held there in 2013. However, due to flooding, the event was moved to Boston that year.

The start of a race at BUCS Regatta

BUCS Regatta

A 2 km regatta held (usually at Holme Pierrepont) over the May Day weekend. Points for the Victor Ludorum are awarded for finishing places in the finals (more points for champ events and bigger boats). In 2005 Durham University Boat Club were 1st, followed by Reading University in 2nd place and University of London behind them in 3rd place. DUBC followed up their wins in 2004 and 2005 by taking the title for a third time in 2006, and followed it up with unprecedented fourth and fifth victories in 2007 and 2008 before winning again in 2011 and 2012.

In 2008 the BUSA regatta was held at Strathclyde Country Park, as NWSC was not available that weekend. Two weeks earlier, a BUSA Sprint Regatta was held at Cotswold Water Park, though the regatta had to be held as a time trial because the weather had prevented the course and stakeboats being laid .

Results[1]

Year Victor Ludorum Top of Medal Table Number of Medals
2012 Durham University Boat Club Loughborough Students Rowing 10 (7 Gold, 3 Silver)
2011 Durham University Boat Club Reading University Boat Club 16 (9 Gold)
2010 Durham University Boat Club Imperial College Boat Club 7 Gold
2009 Durham University Boat Club Durham University Boat Club 27 (13 Gold)
2008 Durham University Boat Club
2007 Durham University Boat Club
2006 Durham University Boat Club
2005 Durham University Boat Club
2004 Durham University Boat Club
↑Jump back a section

Other competitions

A number of university boat clubs have organised annual races between themselves. These include:

There are separate bumps races held every year for the Cambridge colleges, Oxford colleges, and London medical schools (called the "United Hospitals Bumps"). Durham College Rowing organises two inter-collegiate regattas and a head race between the Durham Colleges.

↑Jump back a section

University boat clubs

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

England

  • Oxford Brookes University Boat Club Oxford Brookes University Boat Club Rowing Blade.svg
  • University of Plymouth Rowing Club
  • University of Portsmouth Rowing Club
  • Reading University Boat Club Reading University Boat Club Rowing Blade.svg
  • Roehampton University Boat Club Vesta Rowing Blade.svg
  • Sheffield Hallam University Rowing Club
  • Sheffield University Rowing Club
  • Southampton University Boat Club Southampton University Boat Club rowing blade.jpg
  • Sunderland University Rowing Club
  • University of Surrey Boat Club
  • Teesside University Rowing Club
  • University of Warwick Boat Club University of Warwick Boat Club Rowing Blade.svg
  • University of West England Boat Club University of West England Boat Club Rowing Blade.svg
  • University of Worcester Rowing Club
  • University of York Boat Club
  • York St John University Rowing Club York St John Rowing Club blade.jpg

Northern Ireland

Scotland

Wales

↑Jump back a section

References

  1. ^ "Archived Results". BUCS. Retrieved 11 February 2013. 
↑Jump back a section

External links
Australian rowing
GB Pair at Henley 2004.JPG
Canadian rowing
New Zealand rowing
UK rowing
US rowing
FISA events
Types of Rowing
Lists
↑Jump back a section
Last modified on 17 May 2013, at 19:36