University College Boat Club
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
University College Boat Club is the most prestigious club in Durham University with over 150 members, a large boathouse and a fleet of boats.
U.C.B.C. has a long history of racing success, competing at the world famous Henley Royal Regatta and many other local and national events.
UCBC is the oldest and largest club in Durham founded in 1834. 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 2000 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 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. Here is a list of some of the events UCBC has competed in over the last few years:
- Henley Royal Regatta
- Thames Head of the River (Tideway)
- Marlow Regatta (Dorney Lake, Eton)
- B.U.S.A. (University championships Nottingham)
- Dublin Regatta (Ireland)
- Tees Regatta
- Durham Head
- Hexham Regatta
- York Head
- Durham City Regatta
- Rutherford Head
- York Small Boats Head
- Durham Supersprints
- York Regatta
- Pennant Series Durham
- Tyne Head of the River
- Durham Regatta
- Admirals Regatta Durham
Some Crews take part in practically all of these regattas whereas others only choose to race once or twice: it is the choice of individual crews whether to race or not.
[edit] Training
If a rower wishes to succeed in regattas throughout the country then he or she must train regularly. To this end UCBC organises circuit training once a week for both male and female crews, and indoor training on rowing machines twice a week.
Crews that are preparing for larger regattas e.g. Henley or Durham Regatta will be expected to train more in their own time. The training of individual crews is the responsibility of the Mens and Womans Captains.
The training of all coxes is the responsibility of the Captain of Coxes.
Members who do not wish to train hard, or at all, will come under no pressure to improve as UCBC is primarily a fun organisation which is dedicated to allowing members to enjoy the pleasures of rowing at whatever intensity the enjoy most.
[edit] Social Events
UCBC is the only society in Castle to hold its own ball every year which last year was held in the splendor of "The Assembly Rooms" in Newcastle, which also holds many Collegiate Balls as well. As well as the annual ball, UCBC holds social events several times a term such as barbeques by the boathouse on a summers evening, or a freshers bar crawl for new members to see Durham, or free meals at Varsity every week after training. The social secretary is responsible for all events taking place each year, in fact some people join UCBC purely for the social aspect of the club!
[edit] The Future of UCBC
UCBC has a Boathouse on the River Wear which it shares with St Aidan's College Boat Club, providing storage for both teams. These boats include both fine plastic and wooden keeled boats (for training). UCBC has 2 VIII's, 7 IV's, a training pair and a scull. Boats are kept in excellent condition by the well trained Boatman who also relies on a team of assistants to keep the fleet in great shape. With sponsership from both local and national firms as well as generous support from Castle JCR, UCBC has been able to invest in excellent new equipment without passing on the cost to its members. With a steady influx of freshers each year the future of UCBC looks bright- as successful on the water in regattas as well as off the water with its social events.
