The Boat Race of the North

Last updated

The Boat Race of the North
Boat Race of the North logo.png
Contested by
Durham University Boat Club Blade.svg Newcastle University Boat Club Blade.svg
DUBC NUBC
First boat race18 May 1997
Current championNewcastle (2022)
Course Redheugh Bridge to Gateshead Millennium Bridge

River Tyne, Newcastle [lower-roman 1]

Course length1,500 metres (4,900 ft)
Sponsor Northumbrian Water (− 2010)
NE1 (2015 –)
Siemens (2017 –)
Number of wins [lower-roman 2]
Durham Newcastle
88
4 draws
Official website
dubc.co.uk
newcastlerowing.com
View along the course from its end point Tyne Bridge - Newcastle Upon Tyne - England - 2004-08-14.jpg
View along the course from its end point

The Boat Race of the North is an annual rowing event between the boat clubs of Durham and Newcastle universities in England. The event is usually staged on the River Tyne in Newcastle, although the 2018 race was held on the River Wear in Durham.

Contents

The inaugural event took place on 18 May 1997. Durham won eight of the first twelve competitions, before a hiatus between 2011 and 2014. Races recommenced in 2015, and Newcastle has won six of the seven events since then.

The event was sponsored for a number of years until 2010 by Northumbrian Water, and hence was known as the Northumbrian Water University Boat Race for this period. [1] Since 2015 the race had been sponsored by the NE1 business development company, with Siemens also sponsoring from 2017, when the race became the Siemens Boat Race of the North. [2] [3]

Races

The main rowing event consists of six races (from 2016), with trophies for the first and novice eights commemorating 19th century Tyne rowers [4]

RaceTrophy
1Men's senior eightsThe Clasper Trophy
2Women's senior eightsThe Chambers Trophy
3Men's novice eightsThe Renforth Trophy
4Women's novice eightsThe Taylor Trophy
5Men's second eights-
6Women's second eights-

Local entertainment is often provided, and other spectacles such as a parade of tall ships, a University Sailing Contest and a University Canoe Water Polo contest have enlivened the atmosphere prior to the main race.

Presentations are made after the races have finished in Baltic Square on the Gateshead side of the river.

The 2006 race and the crews' build up to the race was filmed for an ITV television show about rowing in the North East. [5]

A race for junior rowers takes place before the main university races over the same course. It is usually contested between Tyne Amateur Rowing Club representing Newcastle and a composite of Durham Schools (usually Durham School and St Leonard's) representing Durham. The event does not count towards the overall trophy.

Recent years

Gateshead's Baltic Square, used for award presentations. Newcastle baltic frontseite.jpg
Gateshead's Baltic Square, used for award presentations.

2009 event

The 2009 boat race took place on Saturday 9 May; this was the 13th event, although only ten of the twelve prior competitions had taken place, owing to bad weather. River-based entertainment started at 3:30pm, with the start of racing at 4:40pm. [6] Newcastle took the overall title for the first time.

2010 event

In 2010 the event was held on Sunday 9 May, beginning at 1:00pm, following a race between schoolchildren (won by the Durham crew). [4] It was moved from the Saturday to get better spectator numbers. [7] The Boat Race was a draw, with Newcastle taking both the Freshmen's and Freshwomen's races and Durham both Senior races. [8]

2011 & 2012 events

The 2011 boat race was scheduled to take place on Saturday 7 May 2011 at 5pm. There had been tensions between the teams the previous year, and the weekend before, all four Newcastle boats (Men's senior eights & Freshmen and Women's senior eights & Freshwomen) had beaten their Durham counterparts in finals at the BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) Regatta held at Nottingham. Durham declined to challenge Newcastle for the Boat Race trophies and conceded all races for this year without a contest. Newcastle therefore retained the overall trophy. In 2012, Durham again declined to challenge, leading to the event being abandoned until revived in 2015. [9] [10]

2015 event

In 2015, the race was held on Saturday 9 May. Durham won both Women's and Men's Beginner races by 1 1/4 lengths and a canvas respectively. Newcastle Senior Women fought back with a win by 2 lengths, setting up a decider between the Senior Men. Newcastle won the Senior Men's race by 3 lengths. Newcastle retained the trophy.

2016 event

The 2016 race took place on 7 May 2016. In addition to the four main races, there was also a race between the men's and women's 2nd eights as well as race between local rivals Tyne Rowing Club and Tyne United Rowing Club. [11]

Newcastle's Women won their 1st and 2nd eight races by 2 ¾ and 4 lengths respectively and Newcastle's Men won their 1st and 2nd eight races by 2 ¼ and 2 ¾ lengths respectively. Durham won both the Women's and Men's beginner races by 2 ¾ lengths and ¼ lengths respectively. Therefore, Newcastle won overall. [12]

In the club competition, Tyne Rowing Club beat Tyne United Rowing Club.

2018 event

Rowing at Durham Regatta, which hosted the 2018 Boat Race of the North Durham regatta Univ College Durham v's Newcastle Uni.jpg
Rowing at Durham Regatta, which hosted the 2018 Boat Race of the North

The 2018 race was scheduled for 17 March 2018 but bad weather forced the event to be postponed. A reduced Boat Race, featuring only the senior men's and women's teams, took place alongside the Durham Regatta on 9 June, meaning that the race took place on the River Wear for the first time in its history. Newcastle won both races to retain the overall trophy, the men's team by three feet and the women's team by 1 ¾ lengths. [13]

2019 event

The 2019 event took place on the same day as the Heineken Cup final for European club rugby at St James' Park, with the "fanzone" for the rugby being located at the quayside. Large screens broadcast both the rising and the rugby to the crowds. [14] Newcastle won all six races over a 1500m course from Redheugh Bridge to the Millennium Bridge. Beginner races were replaced by 3rd eights. [15]

2021 event

The race was not held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed in 2021. Newcastle again won all six races. [16]

2022 event

The 2022 races took place on 9 May 2022. Durham won the men's senior 8 race for the first time since the race was revived in 2015, and also took the women's 2nd 8 title, but the remaining four races were won by Newcastle, who took overall victory and retained the trophy. [17]

2023 event

The Boat Race of the North in 2023 was held on Newcastle & Gateshead Quayside from 2pm on Saturday 6 May after the coronation of King Charles III. [18] Newcastle University were once again victorious, retaining the title by winning 5 of the 6 races. [19]

Results

YearRace NumberSenior 8 - MenSenior 8 - Women2nd 8 - Men2nd 8 - Women3rd 8 - Men [lower-alpha 1] 3rd 8 - Women [lower-alpha 1] Overall
202322DurhamNewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastle Win
202221DurhamNewcastleNewcastleDurhamNewcastleNewcastleNewcastle Win
202120NewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastle Win
2020 [lower-alpha 2] Cancelled - Newcastle retain trophy
201919NewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastle Win
2018 [lower-alpha 3] 18NewcastleNewcastleNewcastle Win
201717NewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastleDurhamNewcastle Win
201616NewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastleDurhamDurhamNewcastle Win
201515NewcastleNewcastleDurhamDurhamDraw - Newcastle retain trophy
2014 [lower-alpha 4] Not contested - Newcastle retain trophy
2013 [lower-alpha 4] Not contested - Newcastle retain trophy
2012 [lower-alpha 4] Not contested - Newcastle retain trophy
2011 [lower-alpha 4] Not contested - Newcastle retain trophy
201014DurhamDurhamNewcastleNewcastleDraw - Newcastle retain trophy
2009 [21] 13NewcastleNewcastleNewcastleDurhamNewcastle Win
2008 [22] 12DurhamDurhamDurhamDurhamDurham Win
200711NewcastleDurhamDurhamNewcastleDraw - Durham retain Trophy
200610DurhamDurhamNewcastleDurhamDurham Win
20059NewcastleDurhamDurhamNewcastleDraw - Durham retain Trophy
20048DurhamDurhamDurhamDurhamDurham Win
2003 [lower-alpha 5] 7NewcastleCancelled - Durham retain Trophy
20026DurhamDurhamNewcastleDurhamDurham Win
20015DurhamNewcastleDurhamDurham Win
2000 [lower-alpha 5] 4Cancelled - Durham retain Trophy
19993DurhamNewcastleDurhamDurham Win
19982DurhamDurhamNewcastleDurham Win
19971DurhamDurhamDurhamDurham Win
TotalsDurham 10
Newcastle 9
Newcastle 10
Durham 9
Newcastle 5
Durham 0
Newcastle 4
Durham 1
Durham 9
Newcastle 10
Durham 8
Newcastle 8
Durham 8
Newcastle 8
4 draws
  1. 1 2 Beginner 8 for races until 2017
  2. Not contested due to the COVID-19 pandemic [20]
  3. Postponed due to bad weather; rescheduled on the River Wear alongside Durham Regatta in a reduced format with only senior crews participating
  4. 1 2 3 4 Durham chose not to contest the trophies
  5. 1 2 Event cancelled due to bad weather

See also

Footnotes

  1. The 2018 race was held using the Durham Regatta long course on the Wear, from the Racecourse to Prebends Bridge.
  2. Wins are calculated by the winner of the majority of races each year, which has varied from two to six. If the numbers are equal, a draw is declared

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henley Royal Regatta</span> Recurring rowing event in Henley-on-Thames, UK

Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held annually on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. It was established on 26 March 1839. It differs from the three other regattas rowed over approximately the same course, Henley Women's Regatta, Henley Masters Regatta, and Henley Town and Visitors' Regatta, each of which is an entirely separate event.

Boat racing is a sport in which boats, or other types of watercraft, race on water. Boat racing powered by oars is recorded as having occurred in ancient Egypt, and it is likely that people have engaged in races involving boats and other water-borne craft for as long as such watercraft have existed.

University rowing in the United Kingdom began when it was introduced to Oxford in the late 18th century. The first known race at a university took place at Oxford in 1815 between Brasenose and Jesus and the first inter-university boat race, between Oxford and Cambridge, was rowed on 10 June 1829.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vesta Rowing Club</span>

Vesta Rowing Club is a rowing club based on the Tideway of the River Thames in Putney, London, England. It was founded in 1870.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxford and Cambridge Cup</span>

The Oxford and Cambridge Cup is the trophy awarded to the winner of the Australian University Championship Men's Eight, and is competed for annually at the Australian University Games or the Australian University Rowing Championships. It is the oldest inter-University competition in Australia. The cup is awarded to the winning men's Eight over a standard 2,000m course.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weybridge Rowing Club</span>

Weybridge Rowing Club, founded in 1881, is a rowing club by the Thames in England, on the Surrey bank. The club organises head races, notably the Weybridge Silver Sculls which has had Olympian winners and co-organises a May/June regatta. It consists of a wide range of members: juniors, novices, seniors, masters (veterans) – these include many past and present champions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen's University Belfast Boat Club</span>

Queen's University Belfast Boat Club (QUBBC) is the boat club of Queen's University Belfast in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is based on the River Lagan in the Stranmillis area of the city, about 10 minutes' walk from the university.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Durham University Boat Club</span>

Durham University Boat Club (DUBC) is the rowing club of Durham University. In recent years, DUBC has cemented itself as one of the strongest university boat clubs in Great Britain. Under the leadership of former British Olympian Wade Hall-Craggs, DUBC notably won the BUCS Victor Ludorum for ten consecutive years (2004-2013), and has produced a number of athletes that have competed internationally at European and World Championship level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trevelyan College Boat Club</span>

Trevelyan College Boat Club (TCBC) is the boat club of Trevelyan College, at Durham University in England. An active north eastern rowing club, it competes on a national level, for example at Henley Royal Regatta and the Head of the River Race. The club runs under the leadership of a structured executive committee and benefits from an annual intake of around thirty novice rowers each year. The club was founded officially in 1976, although there was a history of rowing at the college earlier, with the first boat bought in 1966. It is recorded that an all fresher crew won the Ladies Invitation Race at the university Epiphany Term regatta in 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Nottingham Boat Club</span>

University of Nottingham Boat Club (UoNBC) is the rowing club of the University of Nottingham based in the UK on the River Trent. Founded in 1892, the club has over 120 current active members, equally split between men’s, women’s and novice squads. The club is recognisable by its yellow blades and its green and yellow racing kit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newcastle University Boat Club</span>

Newcastle University Boat Club (NUBC) is the rowing club of Newcastle University, UK. Established in March 1911 as the boat club for Armstrong College, it celebrated its centenary in 2011, when was also appointed High Performance Programme for heavyweight men and women by British Rowing. In the past 20 years current students and alumni won 60 international vests for GB.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Putney Town Rowing Club</span>

Putney Town Rowing Club (PTRC) is a rowing club on the Tideway, the tidal reach of the River Thames in England. Its official British Rowing registered colours are navy and white.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balliol College Boat Club</span> British rowing club

Balliol College Boat Club (BCBC) is the rowing club for members of Balliol College, Oxford, England. It is one of the college boat clubs at the University of Oxford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Cuthbert's Society Boat Club</span>

St Cuthbert's Society Boat Club (SCSBC) is the rowing club of St Cuthbert's Society at Durham University. Founded in the summer of 1893 with the aim of representing St Cuthbert's Society at collegiate level, it is one of the oldest and most distinguished of Durham's collegiate clubs.

William Fawcus was a British rower and member of Tynemouth Rowing Club. He won the Wingfield Sculls and the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta in 1871, being the first provincial competitor to do so.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey College Boat Club</span>

Grey College Boat Club (GCBC) is the rowing club of Grey College at Durham University in North East England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Durham School Boat Club</span>

Durham School Boat Club (DSBC) is a school club offering rowing to students, parents, friends and other local schools. Based at Durham School in the city of Durham, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lancaster University Boat Club</span> British rowing club

Lancaster University Boat Club (LUBC) is the rowing club of Lancaster University. The club was founded in 1964 with the inception of the university by Sir Harold Parkinson and is the oldest sports club at the university. The club is based in the old Halton railway station and trains on a 3 km stretch of the River Lune, 3 miles north of Lancaster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of St Andrews Boat Club</span> Scottish university rowing team

The University of St Andrews Boat Club (UStABC), founded in 1962, is the rowing team affiliated to the University of St Andrews. Operating under the University of St Andrews Athletic Union, the club competes in head races and regattas across Scotland and England, including the Head of the River Race (London), British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta. Its national governing body is Scottish Rowing and the registration code of 'SAU'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of York Boat Club</span>

The University of York Boat Club (UYBC) is the rowing club of the University of York. It was founded in 1963 by Richard Miles. The club's boathouse is located along the River Ouse in Fulford, York, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom.

References

  1. "News Issue 68" (PDF). North East Rowing. June 1998. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  2. Edward Gleadow. "Taking part in the Boat Race of the North". Durham University. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  3. "The Siemens Boat Race of the North". NUBC. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  4. 1 2 "University boat race honours Tyne rowing heroes". BBC News. 26 April 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  5. "The Boat Race of the North". Vimeo. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  6. "Annual University Boat Race challenge is issued". Newcastle University. 27 April 2009. Archived from the original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
  7. "Local men lead Universities into oarsome battle". Newcastle University. 26 April 2010. Archived from the original on 9 May 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  8. Melanie Reed (9 May 2010). "Honours even in 14th University Boat Race". Northumbrian Water. Newcastle University. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  9. Isabella Eckert. "Aboat time! Newcastle vs Durham boat race is back". The Tab .
  10. "The Boat Race of the North returns". The Courier Online. 4 May 2015.
  11. Sarah Jeffery (20 April 2016). "The Boat Race of the North is set to row down the River Tyne in May". ChronicleLive.
  12. Kelsey Stoddart. "Newcastle crowned Champions of the North at Boat Race 2016". Newcastle University Boat Club. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  13. The Courier (24 June 2018). "Durham beaten on home waters by Blue Stars" . Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  14. Barbara Hodgson (11 May 2019). "Boat Race of the North adds to Newcastle's weekend of sporting action for rowing and rugby fans". ChronicleLive.
  15. Maggie Elstob (20 May 2019). "Boat Race victory for Newcastle over North East Neighbours Durham". The Courier.
  16. Sonia Sharma (5 June 2021). "Joy as Siemens Boat Race of the North returns to River Tyne - with victory for Newcastle University". ChronicleLive.
  17. Toby Bryant (9 May 2022). "Durham turn heads at Siemens' Boat Race of the North but Newcastle retain title in style". NewcastleWorld.
  18. "Navigation Notice No 5 of 2023 - Rowing Event". Port of Tyne. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  19. Becks Fleet (24 May 2023). "Durham University defeated by Newcastle University for eighth year in a row in Boat Race of the North". Palatinate.
  20. "Siemens Boat Race of the North". Durham University Boat Club. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  21. "Newcastle claim first Boat Race title". Newcastle University. 9 May 2009. Archived from the original on 22 May 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2009.
  22. "12th University Boat Race". BBC News. 30 April 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2008.