University rowing (UK)
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.
Today, many universities have a rowing club and at some collegiate universities—Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, and London—each college has its own club as well as a main university club. In contrast to the Oxford/Cambridge/Durham colleges, London colleges are members of British Universities and Colleges Sport in their own right, and thus compete in inter-university competitions. 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 1930s with the formation of Queen's University Belfast Boat Club in 1931, whose first inter-varsity races were a triangular tournament against Glasgow and UCD in 1934–35 and who entered the Wylie Cup from 1937 to 1938. The Welsh Boat Race began in 2006.
A 2016 article identified six university clubs which "dominate rowing among higher education institutions": Oxford Brookes, Imperial College, London, Newcastle, Durham and Reading. With the exception of Reading, these are all designated by British Rowing as High Performance Programmes, a scheme that also involves Edinburgh as well as three non-university clubs.
BUCS
Most universities compete in the British Universities and Colleges Sport Championships with a number of events over the year. For non-indoor events, boats are separated into Championship, Intermediate and Beginner.On 16 June 2008, UCS and BUSA merged to form "BUCS" – British Universities and Colleges Sport. Events from 2008/09 onwards therefore come under the BUCS banner, rather than BUSA, e.g. BUCS Regatta rather than BUSA regatta.
BUCS events contribute "BUCS Points" towards the BUCS championship. Since 2011–12, a breakdown of points by sport has also been available. The highest ranked universities in rowing since then have been:
Year | First | Second | Third |
2018–19 | Edinburgh | Newcastle | Queen's Belfast |
2017–18 | Edinburgh | Newcastle | London |
2016–17 | London | Edinburgh | Oxford Brookes |
2015–16 | Newcastle | Edinburgh | Reading |
2014–15 | Durham | Edinburgh | Newcastle |
2013–14 | Imperial | London | Durham |
2012–13 | Imperial | Durham | Newcastle |
2011–12 | Durham | Newcastle | Reading |
BUCS Small Boats Head
The Small Boats Head is held in October. The event was introduced in 2006 and first held on the Trent in Nottingham, small boats having previously competed in the BUSA Championship Head. The 2007 event, held in December, saw 4s included in the Small Boats Head and Durham compete for the first time, dominating the medal table. In 2008 the event was again held in October but moved to the Witham in Boston, Lincolnshire, where it now runs in conjunction with the GB Rowing Team 1st Senior/U23 Assessment. The 2012 head saw Durham's dominance finally broken as, with only the double sculls racing, Imperial topped the medal table with a single gold, a silver and a bronze. Imperial won again the following year, with only the single sculls racing.Note that as the Small Boats Head is an autumn event, the 4s and 8s Head and Regatta from the same BUCS season are held on the following year, e.g. the 2015 Small Boats Head is part of the 2015–16 BUCS season along with the 2016 4s and 8s Head and the 2016 Regatta.
Year | Top of the Medal Table | Number of medals |
2018 | Newcastle University Boat Club | 9 |
2017 | Edinburgh University Boat Club | 7 |
2016 | Cambridge University Boat Club | 6 |
2015 | Reading University Boat Club | 3 |
2014 | Reading University Boat Club | 3 |
2013 | Imperial College Boat Club | 3 |
2012 | Imperial College Boat Club | 3 |
2011 | Durham University Boat Club | 4 |
2010 | Durham University Boat Club | 6 |
2009 | Durham University Boat Club | 10 |
2008 | Durham University Boat Club | 9 |
2007 | Durham University Boat Club | 12 |
2006 | - | - |
BUCS Indoor Rowing Series (UIRS)
BUCS Rowing and British Rowing have managed an annual autumn indoor rowing series at a number of universities and other centres across the UK since 2010, when it started with 11 centres and ran from late November to mid December. In 2016, thirteen centres hosted events from late October to the end of November.BUCS 4s and 8s Head
This is a head race which has been run in February or March since 2003. The event grew rapidly, becoming the largest university heads race in the world by 2007, despite the small boats being split into a separate head after the 2006 event. It was held on the River Trent in Nottingham until 2009, when 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 over a shorter course on one day, and Seniors racing on the longer course 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, with Newcastle topping the medal table.The 2014 event was cancelled due to bad weather, It was held in Boston again in 2015, with racing on Saturday only for the intermediate and championship crews. Newcastle topped the medal table and won the men's Victor Ludorum while Durham, who were second in the medal table, took the women's Victor Ludorum and the overall Victor Ludorum.
In 2015, BUCS sought a new host for a three-year period. The event subsequently moved to the Tyne, hosted by Tyne United Rowing Club, Tyne Amateur Rowing Club and Newcastle University Boat Club in 2016. Newcastle won both the overall and men's Victor Ludorum, with Edinburgh winning the women's Victor Ludorm. The first day of the 2017 event, also on the Tyne, had to be cancelled due to poor weather, but the second day went ahead, with London topping the medal table and taking the Victor Ludorum. The 2018 event saw separate men's and women's Victor Ludorum awards, with London taking the women's prize and Newcastle taking the men's. From 2019, the event was to be held for three years on the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, hosted by the University of Bristol, Hartpury University Centre and Gloucester Rowing Club. Newcastle took the Men's and Overall Victor Ludorum in 2019, with Edinburgh taking the Women's. However, it reverted to the Tyne in 2020 after only one year. The 2020 event was shortened due to bad weather, with only the intermediate and championship races taking place. Newcastle University topped the medal table with ten medals, four gold, as well as winning the men's, women's and overall Victor Ludorum.
BUCS Regatta
A 2 km regatta held over the May Day weekend. Points for the Victor Ludorum are awarded for finishing places in the finals.The regatta was first run in 1994, replacing the UAU 'Regatta' that had been a two-hour slot for University races in the Nottingham City Regatta. The first Regatta attracted 105 crews; by 2000 this had grown to 354. The 2001 Regatta was the first to be held over two days, and attracted over 500 crews. In 2006 the Regatta grew to three days with almost 1000 crews taking part.
In its early years the Regatta was dominated by Nottingham, but in 2004 it was won for the first time by Durham. In 2005 Durham were 1st again, followed by Reading University in 2nd place and University of London behind them in 3rd place. Durham's dominance continued until 2014, when London took the trophy, with Durham 2nd and Imperial College 3rd.
2014 also saw the introduction of separate Victor Ludorum trophies for men's and women's teams in addition to the overall trophy: Durham took the women's prize and Imperial the men's. 2015 saw Durham retain the women's title and Newcastle the men's, with Durham taking the overall title. Newcastle's men retained their trophy in 2016 and Newcastle University won the overall trophy for the first time. The University of London won the 2016 women's trophy on gold medal count, having finished equal on points with Exeter.
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
Year | Victor Ludorum | Top of Medal Table | Number of Medals |
2019 | Newcastle University Boat Club | - | - |
2018 | Newcastle University Boat Club | - | - |
2017 | Oxford Brookes University Boat Club | Oxford Brookes University Boat Club | 29 |
2016 | Newcastle University Boat Club | Newcastle University Boat Club | 19 |
2015 | Durham University Boat Club | Durham University Boat Club | 19 |
2014 | University of London Boat Club | University of London Boat Club | 19 |
2013 | Durham University Boat Club | Durham University Boat Club | 22 |
2012 | Durham University Boat Club | Loughborough Students Rowing | 10 |
2011 | Durham University Boat Club | Reading University Boat Club | 16 |
2010 | Durham University Boat Club | Imperial College Boat Club | 7 Gold |
2009 | Durham University Boat Club | Durham University Boat Club | 27 |
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 | ||
2003 | Nottingham University Boat Club | ||
2002 | Nottingham University Boat Club | ||
2001 | Nottingham University Boat Club | ||
2000 | Nottingham University Boat Club | ||
1999 | Oxford Brookes University Boat Club | ||
1998 | ? | ||
1997 | Nottingham University Boat Club | ||
1996 | Nottingham University Boat Club | ||
1995 | Nottingham University Boat Club | ||
1994 | Nottingham University Boat Club |
Other competitions
Head of the River Race
The Head of the River Race for men's eights, rowed on the Championship Course on the Tideway, awarded the Ortner Shield to the fastest University Athletics Union crew from 1961 to 2005. The first winners were Reading, but the shield was dominated by Durham from the mid 1960s to the mid 1980s, who also won the final shield in 2005.In 2006 the "University Prize" replaced the Ortner Shield. This was restricted to university and college crews of Senior 2 status or lower, with no higher-status entries from that institute, affiliated to British Rowing, Scottish Rowing or Welsh Rowing. This was later renamed the Halladay Trophy, after Durham coach Eric Halladay, and joined by the Bernard Churcher Trophy, an unrestricted prize for universities from anywhere in the world – boats may only be entered for one of these trophies, even if eligible for both.
University | Wins | Years |
Durham | 20 | 1963, 1966–1976, 1978–1984, 2005 |
Imperial College | 9 | 1987–1991, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000 |
Oxford Brookes | 7 | 1994–1996, 1999, 2001–2003 |
Reading | 3 | 1961, 1985, 1986 |
Nottingham | 3 | 1962, 1964, 1965 |
University College and Hospital | 1 | 1977 |
Bristol | 1 | 1992 |
Women's Eights Head of the River Race
The Women's Eights Head of the River Race is, like the men's counterpart, raced on the Championship Course on the Tideway. University crews from anywhere in the world compete for the University Pennant; from 1999 to 2005 there was also a separate prize for the top BUSA-affiliated crew.Year | Winner |
2017 | Cambridge Women |
2016 | Cambridge Women |
2015 | Cambridge Women |
2014 | Newcastle |
2013 | Reading |
2012 | Reading |
2011 | Oxford Brookes |
2010 | Durham |
2009 | Osiris |
2008 | Osiris |
2007 | Osiris |
2006 | Osiris |
2005 | Univ.: Cambridge Women BUSA: Durham |
2004 | Osiris |
2003 | Osiris |
2002 | Race cancelled |
2001 | Cambridge Women |
2000 | Oxford Women |
1999 | Cambridge Women |
1998 | Cambridge Women |
1997 | Cambridge Women |
1996 | Cambridge Women |
1995 | Oxford Women |
1994 | London |
1993 | Cambridge Women |
University races
A number of university boat clubs have organised annual races between themselves. These include:- Oxford and Cambridge – The Boat Race and Women's Boat Race and the Henley Boat Races
- Durham and Newcastle – The Boat Race of the North
- Bristol and UWE – Bristol Boat Race
- Edinburgh and Glasgow – The Scottish Boat Race
- De Montfort University and University of Leicester – Varsity of Leicester
- Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University – Aberdeen Universities Boat Race
- Manchester and Salford – Two Cities Boat Race
- Birmingham and University of Warwick – Varsity Boat Race
- Trinity College, Dublin and Queens University Belfast – Irish University Boat Race
- Swansea University and Cardiff University – The Welsh Boat Race
- University of Stirling and University of Dundee – Tayforth Boat Race
- Queen Mary, University of London and Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry – Part of the Merger Cup
- Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester – part of the Christie Cup
- University of Northumbria and Newcastle University – part of the Stan Calvert Cup
- University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University – part of the Varsity
- Kingston Student Rowing Club and University of Surrey Boat Club – part of the Varsity
- York and Lancaster – Part of Roses Tournament
- University of Derby and University of Northampton – Part of the Varsity Match
- Cambridge :
- *University IVs
- *Lent Bumps
- *Small Boats Regatta
- *May Bumps
- Durham :
- *Autumn Senate Cup
- *Autumn Novice Cup
- *Spring Senate Cup
- *Spring Novice Cup
- *Hayward Cup
- London:
- *Allom Cup
- *United Hospitals regatta, head race and bumps races
- Oxford :
- *Autumn Fours
- *Isis Winter League
- *Torpids
- *Eights Week
University boat clubs
England
- Anglia Ruskin Boat Club
- Aston University Rowing Club
- Bath University Boat Club
- University of Birmingham Boat Club
- Birmingham City University Rowing Club
- Bournemouth University Boat Club
- University of Bradford Rowing Club
- University of Bristol Boat Club
- Brunel University Rowing Club
- Cambridge University Boat Club
- Cambridge University Women's Boat Club
- Cambridge University Lightweight Rowing Club
- Chester University Rowing Club
- De Montfort University Rowing Club
- University of Derby Rowing Club
- Durham University Boat Club
- University of East Anglia Boat Club
- University of East London Boat Club
- Essex University Rowing Club
- Exeter University Boat Club
- Gloucestershire University Rowing Club
- Harper Adams University Rowing Club
- University of Hertfordshire Rowing Club
- University of Hull Boat Club
- Imperial College Boat Club
- Keele University Boat Club
- University of Kent Rowing Club
- Kingston Students Rowing Club
- Lancaster University Boat Club
- Leeds University Boat Club
- Leeds Beckett University Rowing Club
- University of Leicester Boat Club
- University of Lincoln Rowing Club
- Liverpool John Moores University Rowing Club
- University of Liverpool Boat Club
- University of London Boat Club
- Loughborough Students Rowing
- Manchester University Boat Club
- Newcastle University Boat Club
- University of Northampton Rowing Club
- Northumbria University Boat Club
- Nottingham University Boat Club
- Nottingham Trent University Rowing Club
- Oxford University Boat Club
- Oxford University Women's Boat Club
- Oxford University Lightweight Rowing Club
- Oxford University Women's Lightweight Rowing Club
- Oxford Brookes University Boat Club
- University of Plymouth Rowing Club
- University of Portsmouth Rowing Club
- Reading University Boat Club
- Roehampton University Boat Club
- Royal Agricultural University Boat Club
- Salford University Boat Club
- Sheffield Hallam University Rowing Club
- Sheffield University Rowing Club
- Southampton University Boat Club
- Southampton Solent University Boat Club
- Sunderland University Rowing Club
- University of Surrey Boat Club
- Teesside University Rowing Club
- University of Warwick Boat Club
- University of West England Boat Club
- University of Westminster Boat Club
- University of Worcester Rowing Club
- University of York Boat Club
- York St John University Rowing Club
Northern Ireland
- Queen's University Belfast Boat Club
- Queen's University Belfast Ladies Boat Club
- University of Ulster at Coleraine
Scotland
- Aberdeen University Boat Club
- Dundee University Boat Club
- Edinburgh University Boat Club
- Glasgow University Boat Club
- Heriot Watt University Boat Club
- Robert Gordon University Boat Club
- Stirling University Boat Club
- Strathclyde University Boat Club
- University of St Andrews Boat Club
Wales
- Bangor University Rowing Club
- Cardiff University Rowing Club
- Swansea University Rowing Club