University of London Boat Club is the rowing club for the University of London with membership open to students of all of its constituent colleges. ULBC is one of British Rowing’s most senior and successful clubs, with a powerful alumni network. As with other collegiate universities, many of the University of London's colleges have their own boat clubs. Members of these college boat clubs who feel strong enough can trial for a place in the squad of The University Of London Boat Club to compete at an elite level. But the majority of student athletes who join the club do so with prior experience at an elite level. The club has its boat house on the River Thames in Chiswick, London, United Kingdom and is a designated High Performance Programme for GB Rowing, providing a pathway for athletes onto the U23 and Senior GB Rowing Teams The University of London Boat Club has been represented at every Olympic Games since 1960, has more Henley Royal Regatta wins than any other British University in history and has won at least one event a year at Henley Women's Regatta for the past 20 years. ULBC has produced a huge number of international representatives, many of whom have then gone on to medal or win at Senior and U23 World Championships and Olympic Games.
History
The club was formed in the mid-1860s, and since 1950 has won 49 Henley Regatta finals, produced 129 full internationals winning 369 vests, achieving a total of 76 medals: 23 gold, 19 silver and 34 bronze. At U23 World Championships and World Student Games events the club has won 188 vests and produced 32 medal-winning crews. ULBC has been represented at every Olympic Games since 1960:
1996 Atlanta - Coxless Four: T.C. Foster, R.Obholzer. Eight: M.H.W. Parish, G. Smith, J.D.C. Walker. Lwt Coxless Four: M.R, Rowand Republic of South Africa
2000 Sydney - Single Scull: M.Wells. Coxless Four: T.C.Foster. Lwt Coxless Four: M.R, Rowand for Republic of South Africa. Women’s Double: F.Houghton. Women’s Eight: A.Beever
The University of London Boat Club has a professional coaching team. The professional coaching team is supported by a volunteer network made up of highly successful alumni & friends of the club. Hugo Gulliver is the current Chief Coach.
Scholarships and support
The ULBC programme is heavily subsidised by the alumni to minimise the cost of rowing to the students. Funding, financial aid & sports scholarships are available via each of the UL colleges. These vary in form from cash bursaries to support services such as physiotherapy and strength and conditioning. In addition all the colleges have a number of academic scholarships and bursaries. There is also support available from the university in the form of the Convocation Trust. This funding is available through the university to help cover the costs associated with international representation.
Alumni rowing
The club shares its facilities with an active and supportive rowing alumni club, UL Tyrian Club. In 2013 a UL Tyrian crew won the Wyfold Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta. In 2015 UL Tyrian won events at Henley Masters Regattas and at the Head Of The Charles Regatta, in the USA. In 2019 a UL Tyrian won events at Henley Town & Visitors Regatta and UL Tyrian competed at the World Costal Championships in Hong Kong.
Maurice Hayes - former coach and now British Rowing Resources Manager
Frances Houghton - Four times World Champion and double Olympic silver medallist, 2004-2010 – women’s quadruple scull
Nathaniel Reilly-O'Donnell - World Champion 2015 in Men's Coxed Pair, World Champion 2014 in Men's Eight, Silver in 2011. World U23 Championships 2010 Silver M4-, World U23 Championships 2009 Bronze M8+, World Junior Championships 2006 Gold M4-
As with other collegiate universities, the University of London's colleges have their own boat clubs. Members of these college boat clubs who feel strong enough can trial for a place in the squad of the University of London Boat Club.
St Bartholomew's and the Royal London Hospitals' Boat Club
St George's Hospital Medical School Boat Club University College London Boat Club The senior crews of these colleges compete annually for the Allom Cup. Additionally, the medical schools take part in the United Hospitals Bumps races. Both contests take place on the Tideway.
