The History of Durham University Boat Club

• 1834

Regular regattas started by Durham University.

Durham Regatta was founded by the University with help of Squire Lloyd Wharton of Dryburn, after almost 20 years of aquatic festivities celebrating the victory at Waterloo. Durham University original Club raced in “Sylph”

• 1877

Durham University Boat Club is officially formed

• 1897

Graduate’s Challenge Cup presented to Durham University BC for junior inter-collegiate fours, raced for since 1879 but the cup was only presented in 1897.

• 1952

Simon Hobbs (Kings College, Durham University) spare man for GB Olympic team, so possibly the first international athlete from region.

• 1972

First Tees Long Distance Sculls is held as an invitation event. Course from North Tees Power Station to Victoria Bridge (3.75 miles). Won by Rolf Munding of Durham University BC.

• 1973

(Easter) The Club visited Holland for a training camp with hosts Groningen Students Rowing Club in Aegir, as a result of the Clubs meeting in the Ladies Plate at Henley in 1972. DUBC are adopting the new style of an efficient compact stroke with virtually no body swing, followed by very slow controlled sliding.

The club took delivery of a Geo Sims of Twickenham 8+ “Prince Bishop” costing £1,100. The boat was a cross between a Donoratico and a Karlisch, and the first boat ever built with carbon fibre ribs beneath the canvasses. It weighed 45 lbs lighter than the lightest boat in Britain. The boat was 56 feet long with a very short stern. Sectioned in two parts rather than the usual three.

Durham University finished second to Durham ARC in the Page Pennant competition.

• 1974

Geoff Potts, originally Tees RC, but now Durham ARC, and coached by Eric Halliday of Durham University, selected as Gt. Britain Lightweight Single Sculler at World Rowing Championships in Lucerne. First time ligtweight events included. Geoff wins the first ever WRC lightweight race & finishes 4th overall.

• 1978

The first crew from the North East region to win at Henley Royal Regatta since 1874, DUBC win the Visitors Challenge Cup. Crew: Peter McManners, Tom Durie, Peter Scott, Chris Shawcross

• 1979

Graduate Colin Barratt wins Gold in the LM4- at the World Championships in Slovenia

• 1980

Graduate Colin Barratt wins Gold in the LM8+ at the World Championships in Belgium

• 1981

DUBC 4- selected to represent GB at Match des Seniors (U23s) James Stewart, Mike Roberts, Dave Rendle, Damian Hessian coached by Eric Halladay, 5th place.

• 1982

DUBC win the Visitors Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta for a second time. Crew: Simon Pelly, Andrew Purvis, Dave Rendle, Damian Hessian

• 1986

DUWBC selected to represent GB at Match des Seniors (U23s) in W4+. Finished 5th Jo Crookhall, Philippa Cross, Di Foster, Mary Sladden, cox Jojo Freeland coach Paul Mines.

• 1988

DUBC won the Visitors Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta for the third time. Scott Taylor, Mark Towers, James Chaytor, O.W.Hall-Craggs

• 1989

DUBC Mark Towers and George Every represented GB at U23s in M8+ winning Bronze

The Fresher squad is established

• 1990

DUWBC won at Henley Women’s Regatta S2 4+, Sarah van Newkirk, Laura Morgan, Elisabeth Lugg, Caroline Phillips cox Russell Slatford.

Russell Slatford and Graduate Roger Brown win Gold at the U23 World Championships in the M8+

• 1991

DUWBC won Club VIIIs at HWR Anne Lancaster, Margaret Cooke, Fran Cunningham, Ali Holland, Sarah van Newkirk, Pip Graham, Caroline Phillips, Kim Thomas cox Ed Dutton.

• 1992

DUBC won Visitors at HRR with Charlie Harris, Hugo Mills, Ed Bellamy, Simon Pattinson.

Graduates Wade Hall-Craggs, Roger Brown, Kim Thomas and Philippa Cross compete at the Olympic Games

Graduate Andy Butt wins Silver in the LM8+ at the World Championships in Canada

• 1993

Graduate Ed Bellamy wins Gold at the U23 World Championships in the M8+

Graduate Wade Hall-Craggs wins the Wingfield Sculls

• 1994

Graduates Roger Brown (M8+) and Wade Hall-Craggs (M1x) win Gold and Bronze respectively at the Commonwealth Regatta

• 1995

Graduate Andy Butt wins Silver in the LM8+ at the World Championships in Finland

• 1996

Graduates Roger Brown (M8+), Philippa Cross (W2-) and Suzie Ellis (W8+) compete at the Atlanta Olympic Games

Graduate Malindi Myers wins Silver in the LW2- at the World Championships in Great Britain

• 1997

The 1st Northumbrian Water Boat Race in the centre of Newcastle-upon-Tyne revived old inter-campus races that used to be held between Durham University’s Colleges in Newcastle and Durham (previously held in coxed fours).

Graduate Malindi Myers wins Bronze in the LW2- at the World Championships in France

• 1999

Graduate Malindi Myers wins Silver in the LW2- at the World Championships in Canada

• 2000

Wade Hall-Craggs is employed as the Head Coach

Ian Lawson wins Bronze at the World University Games in the M2x

• 2001

DUWBC win at Henley Womens Regatta in LW2-. Magdalene Barron in composite with TSS which goes onto win a bronze medal at National Championships and represent Scotland at Home Inyernational Regatta.

Peter Rudge wins Bronze at the World Championships in the M4+

DUBC and DUWBC merge to become one club.

• 2002

DUBC win College VIIIs at Henley Womens Regatta. Naomi Hoogesteger, Louise Buxton, Bryony Oldale, Celia Kingston, Laura Gater, Helen Loughran, Marsaili Scott, Clare Leake cox Emma Crozier.

Graduate Tracy Langlands wins Bronze in the LW2x at the World Championships

Graduates Chantal Shahloub (W4x), Angus MacAlister (M4x) and Paul Turner (M4x, M2x) win Gold, Silver and Bronzes respectively at the Commonwealth Regatta

Graduate Malindi Myers wins Gold at the World Championships in Croatio in the LW2-

• 2003

Peter Rudge wins Silver in the M4+ at the World Championships

Graduate Ian Lawson wins the Wingfield Sculls for the 3^rd year running

• 2004

Durham University BC won at Henley Womens Regatta in senior quads Clare Leake, Rachel Harris, Ann Fines Allin, Louisa Reeve.

Paul Kelly and James Clarke selected to represent GB at U23s in LM2- and won bronze medal.

DUBC won the BUSA Regatta winning the Eric Halladay Memorial trophy, the first time that Nottingham had ever lost the title.

Stephen Rowbotham wins Silver at FISU World University Championships

Graduates Ian Lawson(M1x) and Tracy Langlands (LW2x) compete at the Athen’s Olympic Games

• 2005

Men’s 1^st 8 win Ortner Shield for universities at the HORR

Coxed four or P. Evans, P. Thomas, J. Foster, N. Jones and T. Hill win the Men’s Student Coxed Fours event at HRR (now the Prince Albert Challenge Cup)

Coxless four of L. Reeve, A. Allin and L. Gooderham (in a Nottingham University BC composite) win Senior Coxless Fours at HWR

L. Gater wins Senior Single Scull at HWR

Graduate Naomi Hoogesteger wins Bronze at the World Championships in Japan

Durham wins BUSA Regatta

• 2006

M. Paxton, A. Hoskins, F. Fletcher and E. Steel win HWR in Senior Quad Sculls

Graduate James Clarke strokes the winning LM4- at the World Championships

Graduate Steve Rowbotham wins Bronze in the M2x at the World Championships

Louisa Reeve wins Gold at the World University Rowing Championships

Frances Fletcher wins Silver at the U23 World Championships in the W4x

Durham wins BUSA Regatta

• 2007

S. Bradshaw, A. Wolstencroft, F. Fletcher and E. Steel win HWR in Lightweight Quad Sculls

Graduate L. Reeve wins Bronze at the World Championships in Germany in the W8+

Durham wins BUSA Regatta

• 2008

Men’s 1^st 8 finish 6^th at the HORR whilst the women finish 3^rd at the WHORR

Emily Taylor and Hannah Elsy win Silver at the European Championships in the W8+ and Bronze in the W2-

Nick Fearnhead and Henry Chin win Bronze at the U23 World Championships in the LM4x and Silver in the World University Rowing Championships in the 2x

Graduate Steve Rowbotham wins Olympic Bronze medal in the M2x at Beijing – the first British Olympic sculling medal since 1976

Graduates James Clarke (LM4- ) and Louisa Reeve (W8+ and W2-) final at the Beijing Olympics

Durham wins BUCS Regatta

• 2009

Sarah Cowburn wins Silver at the Rowing World Cup in the W4x

Emily Taylor (W8+), Will Fletcher (LM4x) and Keiren Emery (M8+) win Gold and Bronzes respectively at the U23 World Championships in the Czech Republic

Graduate Steve Rowbotham wins Gold in the M2x at the Rowing World Cup in Spain

Durham wins BUCS Regatta

• 2010

DUBC runs the inaugural year of the Winter Challenge Cup

The Women finish 4^th at the WHORR

Durham wins BUCS Regatta for the 7^th year running

Graduates James Clarke and Lousia Reeve win Gold at the Bled Rowing World Cup in the M8+ and W8+ respectively

Graduate Steve Rowbotham wins Bronze at the World Cups in Germany and Switzerland in the M4x

Will Fletcher (LM4-), Matthew Rossiter (M4-) and Jamie Watson (LM4x) win Gold, Silver and Bronze respectively at the U23 World Championships in Belarus

Matthew Rossiter and Emily Taylor win Golds at the World University Rowing Championships in the M8+ and the W4- respectively