Northumbrian Water University Boat Race
Encyclopedia
The Northumbrian University Boat Race is an annual rowing
event between the boat club
s of Durham
and Newcastle
universities in England
. The event is staged on the River Tyne
in Newcastle
.
The inaugural event took place on May 18, 1997. Durham has won eight of the twelve competitions. In 2009 Newcastle took the overall title for the first time and in 2010 the event was a draw. The event was sponsored for a number of years up until 2010 by Northumbrian Water
, and hence was known as the Northumbrian Water University Boat Race for this period.
The main rowing event consists of four races:
In addition a race for junior rowers takes place before the main university races over the same course. It is usually contested between Tyne 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.
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
.
Immediately prior to the first race, Durham complained that the stagger of the stake boats was too big, giving an advantage to Newcastle. It is understood that the stake boats had been placed according to set co-ordinates, as in previous years. The Umpire shortened the stagger in order for the racing to take place without undue delay.
. Durham declined to challenge Newcastle for the Boat Race trophies and conceded all races for this year without a contest. Newcastle therefore retain the overall trophy.
Notes
+ Event cancelled due to bad weather
++ Durham chose not to contest the trophies
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
event between the boat club
Boat club
A boat club is a sports club based around boats, especially rowing and yachting, but also canoeing, motor boats and other small boats....
s of Durham
Durham University Boat Club
Durham University Boat Club is the Rowing Club of Durham University in England.- History :The club was founded in the 1880s to represent the University instead of University College Boat Club and Hatfield College Boat Club....
and Newcastle
Newcastle University Boat Club
Newcastle University Boat Club 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.- Training facilities :...
universities in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The event is staged on the River Tyne
River Tyne
The River Tyne is a river in North East England in Great Britain. It is formed by the confluence of two rivers: the North Tyne and the South Tyne. These two rivers converge at Warden Rock near Hexham in Northumberland at a place dubbed 'The Meeting of the Waters'.The North Tyne rises on the...
in Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
.
The inaugural event took place on May 18, 1997. Durham has won eight of the twelve competitions. In 2009 Newcastle took the overall title for the first time and in 2010 the event was a draw. The event was sponsored for a number of years up until 2010 by Northumbrian Water
Northumbrian Water
Northumbrian Water Group plc is the holding company for several companies in the water supply, sewerage and waste water industries. NWG's largest subsidiary is Northumbrian Water Limited , which is one of ten companies in England and Wales that are regulated water supply and sewerage utilities...
, and hence was known as the Northumbrian Water University Boat Race for this period.
Races
| Race | Trophy | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Men's senior eights | The Clasper Trophy |
| 2 | Women's senior eights | The Chambers Trophy |
| 3 | Freshmen | The Renforth Trophy |
| 4 | Freshwomen | The Taylor Trophy |
In addition a race for junior rowers takes place before the main university races over the same course. It is usually contested between Tyne Rowing Club
Tyne Rowing Club
Tyne Rowing Club is the longest established rowing club in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. Founded in 1852, the club is among the oldest sporting clubs in England....
representing Newcastle and a composite of Durham Schools (usually Durham School and St Leonard's
St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham
St Leonard's Catholic School is a voluntary aided Roman Catholic comprehensive school in Durham, England.The school was founded in 1936 as the St Leonard's Catholic Central School in the former Springwell Hall, a coalmine owner's house acquired in 1935 by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and...
) representing Durham. The event does not count towards the overall trophy.
Recent years
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
BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art
The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art is an international centre for contemporary art located on the south bank of the River Tyne alongside the Gateshead Millennium Bridge in Gateshead, North East England, United Kingdom...
on the Gateshead
Gateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
side of the river.
The 2006 race and the crews' build up to the race was filmed for an ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
television show about rowing in the North-East
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
.
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. Newcastle took the overall title for the first time.2010 event
In 2010 the race was on Sunday 9 May at 1:00pm. It was moved from the Saturday to get better spectator numbers. It was a draw.Immediately prior to the first race, Durham complained that the stagger of the stake boats was too big, giving an advantage to Newcastle. It is understood that the stake boats had been placed according to set co-ordinates, as in previous years. The Umpire shortened the stagger in order for the racing to take place without undue delay.
2011 event
The 2011 boat race was scheduled to take place on Saturday 7 May 2011 at 5pm. 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 NottinghamNottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
. Durham declined to challenge Newcastle for the Boat Race trophies and conceded all races for this year without a contest. Newcastle therefore retain the overall trophy.
Results
| Year | Race Number | Clasper Trophy | Chambers Trophy | Renforth Trophy | Taylor Trophy | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011++ | 15 | - | - | - | - | Newcastle Retain the Trophy |
| 2010 | 14 | Durham | Durham | Newcastle | Newcastle | Draw - Newcastle Retain the Trophy |
| 2009 | 13 | Newcastle | Newcastle | Newcastle | Durham | Newcastle Win |
| 2008 | 12 | Durham | Durham | Durham | Durham | Durham Win |
| 2007 | 11 | Newcastle | Durham | Durham | Newcastle | Draw - Durham Retain the Trophy |
| 2006 | 10 | Durham | Durham | Newcastle | Durham | Durham Win |
| 2005 | 9 | Newcastle | Durham | Durham | Newcastle | Draw - Durham Retain the Trophy |
| 2004 | 8 | Durham | Durham | Durham | Durham | Durham Win |
| 2003+ | 7 | - | - | - | Newcastle | - |
| 2002 | 6 | Durham | Durham | Newcastle | Durham | Durham Win |
| 2001 | 5 | Durham | Newcastle | Durham | n/a | Durham Win |
| 2000+ | 4 | - | - | - | n/a | - |
| 1999 | 3 | Durham | Newcastle | Durham | n/a | Durham Win |
| 1998 | 2 | Durham | Durham | Newcastle | n/a | Durham Win |
| 1997 | 1 | Durham | Durham | Durham | n/a | Durham Win |
Notes
+ Event cancelled due to bad weather
++ Durham chose not to contest the trophies
See also
- Newcastle University
- Newcastle University Boat ClubNewcastle University Boat ClubNewcastle University Boat Club 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.- Training facilities :...
- Durham UniversityDurham UniversityThe University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
- Durham University Boat ClubDurham University Boat ClubDurham University Boat Club is the Rowing Club of Durham University in England.- History :The club was founded in the 1880s to represent the University instead of University College Boat Club and Hatfield College Boat Club....