Rowing
President: Oscar Gray (oscar.s.gray@durham.ac.uk)
Welcome to the University College Boat Club! Established in 1834, UCBC is the oldest boat club in the North of England. Our boathouse is located just 100 feet from the iconic Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle, both UNESCO World Heritage sites.
UCBC caters to rowers of all abilities with flexible training schedules to fit your desired commitment. Our Men’s and Women’s Squads have a diverse training programme, including water sessions on both the River Tyne in Newcastle and the River Wear in Durham, as well as land-based training on the ergs and in the gym. Recent successes for the Women’s Squad include wins at York Head and Hexham Regatta in the 1st VIII, and victories for the 1st IV at both Durham and Hexham Regattas. The Men’s Squad also had a strong season, with the 1st IV reaching the finals at Durham Regatta and the 1st VIII finishing second at Rutherford Head.
For those new to rowing, our Novice ‘Learn to Row’ Programme can take you from a complete beginner to competing in the club’s top crews which race all over the country. Run by a dedicated team of four captains, the programme saw great success in the 2023/24 season, winning the men’s event at the annual ‘Novice Cup’ and securing second place for the women’s crew.
We are always looking to recruit more coxes. Whether you are an experienced coxswain or have never set foot in a boat, our Learn to Cox Programme can teach you the skills you need and our busy race schedule means you will have plenty of opportunities to cox at a high and competitive level.
During the first two academic terms of the year, UCBC competes regularly at local races such as Rutherford Head, Tyne Head and Durham Small Boats Head. The head season culminates with the prestigious Women's Eights and the Men's Head of the River Races on the Thames River in London. In the final term of the year, summer regatta season kicks off where UCBC aims for medals and tankards at events like Hexham and Durham Regattas. UCBC has also made the occasional appearance at the world-renowned Henley Royal Regatta.
In addition to running a competitive rowing programme, our club has a vibrant social scene with numerous events throughout the year. Highlights include the infamous Bailey Boat Race at the start of the first term, our Christmas Dinner, the WeHORR/HORR London Dinners, the Durham Regatta BBQ with our alumni, and the annual UCBC Ball.
UCBC is fortunate to have the support and generosity of our alumni, Floreat Castellum Boat Club. FCBC welcomes all past members, whether they rowed or participated socially, and continues to maintain the strong connections and friendships which are formed during one’s time at UCBC through reunions at Henley Royal Regatta, dinners, and other events throughout the year.
We would be delighted for you to join UCBC. We welcome active rowers who want to race competitively, recreational rowers who wish to enjoy Durham’s scenic River Wear whilst staying fit, as well as social members eager to join our fun and inclusive rowing community.
Please do get in touch if you have any questions or want to find out more about UCBC. You can contact us by email, through our website, or via one of our social media pages, and we would be happy to answer any queries.