University College Boat Club
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
University College Boat Club (UCBC) is the rowing club of University College at Durham University in northern England, with over 150 members, a large boathouse and a fleet of boats.
UCBC has a long history of racing success, competing at Henley Royal Regatta and many other local and national events.
UCBC is the oldest and largest club in Durham and was founded in 1834. In fact it is the oldest Boat Club in the UK north of Chester. The boathouse is situated just 100ft from the cathedral and castle, both world heritage sites, visited by large numbers of tourists all year round.
Durham is home to the busiest rowing river in Europe with more than 2,000 rowers competing for space on a 4 km stretch of water.
University College Boat Club is a traditional institution, which, due to the increasing financial pressure of top level competition, has recently entered the sponsorship market.
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[edit] New rowers
Rowing has traditionally been the most popular sport in Durham for many years and a large percentage of freshers choose to row each year. Unlike many student societies UCBC will provide at least one coach per crew of four. These coaches are fellow students with several years experience rowing, but can still remember what it was like never to have rowed before.
Freshers are grouped into crews and are given proper tuition about water safety and technique before they start on the water. The first race that all new rowers in Durham take part in is the "Novice Cup" or "Hatfield Cup". This race is between crews of different colleges and the entire college often shows up by the river to cheer on the Castle crews.
[edit] Races
UCBC competes in many races and regattas both in the North East and the rest of the United Kingdom. Below are some of the events UCBC has competed in over the last few years:
- Henley Royal Regatta
- The Head of the River Race
- The Womens Head of the River Race
- Marlow Regatta (Dorney Lake, Eton)
- B.U.S.A. Regatta (National Watersports Centre)
- Dublin Regatta (Ireland)
- Durham Regatta
- Senate Cup
- Hexham Regatta
- Head of the Trent (Nottingham)
- Durham City Regatta
- Rutherford Head
- York Small Boats Head
- Durham Supersprints
- York Spring Regatta
- York Summer Regatta
- Pennant Long Course (Stockton)
- Pennant Short Course (Durham)
- Tyne Head of the River (Newcastle)
- Admirals Regatta
Some of these events will only be against other colleges whereas others will attract the top international crews from around the world.
Some crews take part in practically all of these regattas whereas others only choose not compete at all, instead using the sport as a way to stay fit.
[edit] Social events
UCBC is able to hold its own Ball in Epiphany Term, the only Castle society large enough to do so. Previous locations include The Royal County Hotel in Durham, and the Assembly Rooms Newcastle. Additionally there are social events several times a term such as barbecues by the boathouse on a summers evening, or the Freshers Bar Crawl for new members to see Durham, or free meals at Varsity every week after training.
[edit] Boathouse and fleet
UCBC has its own boathouse on the River Wear just below Durham Cathedral and a scenic 2 minutes walk from the Castle. It was constructed in the late 19th century and used to have baths and a bar. However these have all been removed for boats as the club has expanded. UCBC has 3 VIII's, 7 IV's, and numerous smaller boats.
