St John's College Boat Club (Durham)

St John's College Boat Club
Motto	"Est dolor nostra victoria"
Location	Clive's Boathouse, St John's College boathouse, Durham
Home water	River Wear
Founded	1910
Key people	Jonathan Savine (Captain of Boats)
Affiliations	British Rowing ; Durham College Rowing ; St John's College ; Durham University ;
Website	sjcbcdurham.wordpress.com

Last updated January 14, 2025

St John's College Boat Club (SJCBC) is the rowing club of St John's College, Durham University, England. It was founded in 1910 and is one of the oldest boat clubs in Durham.

History

Rowing began at St John's College in October 1910 when trials were held to select a crew for a IV. In 1911, however, the boat house was built thanks to the help of Revd Watts-Ditchfield who telling commented, "we have not won anything yet but can see improvements." Henry Ganderton played a leading role in developing the Club in the 1910s and 1920s.

In the 1930s James Atkinson likewise made a great impression on rowing at St John's, captaining for both SJCBC and the University.^[5]

Structure

The club is entirely run by students and attracts most of its members from St John's College – though anyone can join with the permission of the Captain of Boats.

The club has around 80 active members. It is run by an executive committee, elected at the club's annual general meeting in June. These are Captain of Boats, Vice-Captain, Men's Squad Captain, Women's Squad Captain, Head Coxswain, Treasurer, Head Boatman, Social Secretary, Secretary to the Regatta Blue Club, Publicity Officer, and Novice Development Officer.^[6] The club's alumni association, the Regatta Blue Club, maintains a strong link between past and present students who meet together for major events.^[6]

Competition

The Club competes at a national, regional and college level, and has entered boats into BUCS, Head of the River Race (HoRR), Women's Head of the River Race (WeHorr), and the Boston Rowing Marathon.

Head of The River Race

St. John’s College Boat Club have raced Head of the River Race fifteen times since 2001. The M1 crew won the Small Academic Pennant in 2023. The Clubs highest finish position is also recorded below.

Awards
Year	Award	Position	Time	Crew
2023	Small Academic Pennant	201	19:56.6	Coxswain: R. Allen , Stroke: J. Richards, L. Fleming, S. King, B. Sporton, C. Lester, M. Bamforth, T. Holmes, Bow: G. Weston

Highest Finish Position
Year	Position	Time
2009	195	19:40.45

Women’s Head of the River Race

St. John's College Boat Club have raced Women's Head of the River Race seven times since 2003. The Clubs highest finish position is recorded below.

Highest Finish Position
Year	Position	Time
2012	188	23:47.14

Durham Regatta

Durham Regatta wins since 2009 are listed below.

Year	Event	Award	Notes
2024	Op NCA 4+	Durham University Challenge Trophy	Composite crew with Grey College Boat Club
2022	W Mdn 4+	-	-
2015	IM2.8+(b)	-	-
2013	Nov.8+	Lowe Challenge Bowl	-
2010	IM2.4+	Rushworth and Storey Challenge Cup	-
2010	NOV.4+	Lady Herschell Plate	-
2010	IM3.4+	Durham City Plate	-
2009	IM3.8+	Arthur C. Clark Challenge Cup	-

Other Events

St. John’s College Boat Club has wins in Hexham, Durham City and York Regattas. The club won the Durham College Rowing Senate Cup and the DCR Women's Novice Cup in 2016, 2017 and the 2018 season. In 2018, the novice programme was especially successful, with the Club being overall winners at the DCR Novice Cup. The novice women's boats placed 1st, 2nd and 4th, and the novice men placed 3rd.

Club colours

The blades are a dark Regatta blue and boats have Regatta blue and crimson chevrons on their bow-canvasses.^[7]

The racing Lycra all-in-one is Navy blue with red and white stripes.

The club blazer is white with Regatta Blue trim. Blazers are awarded to members as a sign of long-term commitment and athletic achievement, and is worn by members at formal and informal social events.^[6]

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References

↑ "River_wear.PNG (1024x768 pixels)". www.dur.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
↑ "About". St John's College Boat Club. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
↑ British Rowing Registration. "British Rowing" . Retrieved 13 January 2025.
↑ Durham College Rowing. "Durham College Rowing Member organisations" . Retrieved 13 January 2025.
↑ Craig, Amabel, ed. (2008). Fides Nostra Victoria: A Portrait of St John's College, Durham. London: Third Millennium. p. 94.
1 2 3 "Constitution" (PDF). St John's College Boat Club.
↑ "St John's College (Durham) BC". British Rowing .

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[1] "River_wear.PNG (1024x768 pixels)". www.dur.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2022.

[2] "About". St John's College Boat Club. Retrieved 3 November 2022.

[3] British Rowing Registration. "British Rowing" . Retrieved 13 January 2025.

[4] Durham College Rowing. "Durham College Rowing Member organisations" . Retrieved 13 January 2025.

[5] Craig, Amabel, ed. (2008). Fides Nostra Victoria: A Portrait of St John's College, Durham. London: Third Millennium. p. 94.

[const-6] 1 2 3 "Constitution" (PDF). St John's College Boat Club.

[7] "St John's College (Durham) BC". British Rowing .

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Organisations	Durham University Boat Club (DUBC) Durham College Rowing
College boat clubs	Collingwood Grey Hatfield Hild Bede John Snow Josephine Butler St Aidan's St Chad's St Cuthbert's St John's St Mary's Stephenson Trevelyan University Ustinov Van Mildert
Events	Durham Regatta Boat Race of the North
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