As a club, we have a deep and rich history, dating back to the founding of Durham University in 1832. Early club records are incomplete and as a result, we have little information about our club prior to the mid 20th century. On this page, we aim to collate information about our club, its members and their achievements, currently up to and including the year 2012, particularly focusing on significant ‘firsts’ for our club but with a view that gaps in information will exist as a result of the age of Durham University Boat Club. This being said, if you do know of anything that we have not included in our efforts to trace back the history of our club, please let us know, either by contacting the current DUBC Media Officer whose email can be found on our Exec and Committee page or through the information found on our Contact Us page, as we are keen to ensure our club history is as accurate as possible.
We have a growing amount of alumni who wish to tell their stories of their time at our club, so please do find these on our Alumni Memories section of the website and do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any other tales of DUBC you wish to share as we would love to read and share them. Please do so via contacting the current DUBC Media Officer or DUBC Alumni Officer through the email addresses found here.
1832
Durham University is founded
Durham Regatta in the early 20th century
1834
the First durham regatta is held
The event was held by Durham University as part of the City’s annual celebration of the Duke of Wellington’s victory at the Battle of Waterloo which had previously involved a procession of boats from Prebends Bridge to the Old Durham Beck.
University crews raced in boats named The Sylph, St Cuthbert, St Agnes and the Venerable Bede.
1877
Durham University Boat Club is founded
1881
first recorded dubc win
Durham University Boat Club win the Durham Regatta Grand Challenge Cup for the first time. This is the first recorded win in a long line of DUBC victories. We go on to win this cup at Durham Regatta many more times.
DUBC then won the Wirral Grand Challenge Cook in 1884, and the Tyne Regatta Challenge Cup in 1888.
The Durham Regatta Grand Challenge Cup
1904
Inaugural inter-varsity race with Edinburgh University held in June
Images from Durham University archives
Above: Durham University BC against Edinburgh University BC first crews rowing towards Elvet Bridge (June 1925)
Right: Durham University BC and Edinburgh University BC crews in front of Durham Castle wall (June 1925)
From left: AAM-G, (Edinburgh man), A. Stockdale, C.F. Martin (Edinburgh), O.N. Gwilliam, (Unknown, Edinburgh coach), (seated) E.W.P. Ainsworth, N.J. Nicholson (Edinburgh), T.A. Sedgwick, J.B. Rolt (Edinburgh), (Unknown, Edinburgh cox), R.C. Palin
Records show that these inter-varsity races continued to be held until at least June 1949, with annual torpid races also being held both at home and away in December between the two universities. In 1924, the first race against Leeds University Boat Club is recorded.
1911
Armstrong College, part of the Newcastle division of Durham University, establish Armstrong College Boat Club under the umbrella of Durham University Boat Club.
In 1924, Armstrong College created the Armstrong College Women’s Boat Club, shortly followed by the formation of a boat club by Durham Women Students Association two years later. In 1930, both crews raced each other for the first time, however there are no digitalised photographic records of historic women’s rowing in the Durham University archives to illustrate this. 1938 saw the establishment of Durham Colleges Women’s Boat Club, which would go on to become Durham University Women’s Boat Club until 2001. DCWBC raced against teams from York and Newcastle after it’s formation.
1948
Durham University Boat Club race at Henley Royal Regatta for the first time, and Head of the River Race the following year, beginning a longstanding tradition of DUBC attendance at these events
1952
Sam Hobbs selected to be a spare man for the British Olympic Team
This selection made him the first DUBC Olympian, and the likely first international athlete from the region.
1963
Kings College of Durham University becomes the University of Newcastle upon Tyne
1964
eric halladay comes to durham university, marking the beginning of a new era for durham university boat club
Eric Halladay joined Durham University as Master of Grey College and Durham University Boat Club coach. He coached the boat club for over 30 years, going on to win the Ortner Shield 18 times between 1966 and 1984. DUBC saw its first of a run of UAU Championship wins in 1968 under Halladay.
1972
first tees long distance sculls held as an invitation only event and won by rolf munding of dubc
The Henley Royal Regatta Visitors Challenge Cup
1978
dubc win visitors challenge cup at henley royal regatta
This was the first Durham University Boat Club HRR win, and the crew (Peter McManners, Tom Durie, Peter Scott, Chris Shawcross) became the first crew from the North East to win HRR since 1874.
The Visitors Challenge Cup has since been won by DUBC in 1982 (crew: Simon Pelly, Andrew Purvis, Dave Rendle, Damian Hessian), 1988 (crew: Scott Taylor, Mark Towers, James Chaytor, Wade Hall-Craggs), 1992 (crew: Charlie Harris, Hugo Mills, Ed Bellamy, Simon Pattinson) and in 2010 with a Leander and Durham composite boat.
1981
men’s match des seniors selection
The DUBC 4- crew (crew: James Stewart, Mike Roberts, Dave Rendle, Damian Hessian coached by Eric Halladay) was selected to represent GB at the Match des Seniors (U23s), coming 5th.
1986
women’s match des seniors selection
The Durham University Women’s Boat Club W4+ (crew: Jo Crookhall, Philippa Cross, Di Foster, Mary Sladden, cox Jojo Freeland, coach Paul Mines) was selected to represent GB at the Match des Seniors (U23s), finishing 5th.
1989
dubc freshers squad is formed
Prominent alumni of the DUBC novice program include Olympic bronze medallist Steve Rowbotham (pictured) and European silver medallist Emily Taylor
1990
duwbc first henley women’s regatta win
Durham University WBC win their first of many Henley Women's Regattas in a 4+ (crew: Sarah van Newkirk, Laura Morgan, Elisabeth Lugg, Caroline Phillips cox Russell Slatford).
1991
duwbc win club viiis at henley women’s regatta
Durham University WBC see their second Henley Women’s success in the club VIIIs (crew: Anne Lancaster, Margaret Cooke, Fran Cunningham, Ali Holland, Sarah van Newkirk, Pip Graham, Caroline Phillips, Kim Thomas, cox Ed Dutton).
1992
olympic selection
In 1992, the first Durham alumni were selected as Olympic rowers since the independence of Newcastle in 1963.
The athletes selected were:
Kim Thomas (Women’s 4-)
Phillippa Cross (Women’s 8+)
Wade Hall-Craggs (Men’s 1x)
Roger Brown (Men’s 4x)
DUBC has since seen several other athletes go on to Olympic level competition.
1993
eric halladay is appointed as steward at henley royal regatta
1997
Eric Halladay is instrumental in setting up the Northumbrian Water University Boat Race, now known as the Siemens Boat Race of the North
“Place on my tomb the oar with which I rowed with my friends when I was among living men”
1997
death of eric halladay
In 1997, Eric Halladay sadly passed away, and DUBC launched an Eric Halladay memorial trust fund with the aim of appointing a professional coach. His funeral saw many crews that had since left Durham reunited as they came together to remember his life and achievements.
2000
wade hall-craggs is appointed dubc head coach
Having been coached by Eric Halladay in his time as a highly successful DUBC rower, Wade Hall-Craggs joined DUBC with an understanding of the legacy left by him.
2001
DUWBC merges with the previously exclusively male DUBC to form Durham University Boat Club as it is known today
The new DUBC move forward, together achieving 3 HRR wins, 14 HWR wins, 7 HORR trophy and pennant wins, and 6 WEHORR trophy and pennant wins to date, with athletes going on to win gold medals at U23 World Championships and the Olympics, amongst other events.
2004
DUBC win BUSA Regatta (later becoming BUCS Regatta), winning the Eric Halladay Memorial Trophy and beginning a 10 year hold on the Victor Ludorum
2005
The Men’s 1st VIII win the Ortner Sheild for universities at HORR
DUBC coxed four win the Men’s Student Coxed Fours event at HRR, now the Prince Albert Challenge Cup, (crew: P. Evans, P. Thomas, J. Foster, N. Jones and T. Hill)
Our coxless four in a Nottingham University BC composite win the Senior Coxless Fours at HWR ( L. Reeve, A. Allin and L. Gooderham)
L. Gater wins Senior Single Sculls at HWR
2006
M. Paxton, A. Hoskins, F. Fletcher and E. Steel win HWR in the Senior Quad Sculls
Louisa Reeve wins gold at the World University Rowing Championships
Frances Fletcher wins silver at the U23 World Championships in the W4x
2007
dubc win hwr in lightweight quad sculls
2008
Women’s 1st VIII finish 3rd at WEHORR and Men’s 1st VIII finish 6th at HORR
DUBC alumni Steve Rowbotham (bronze; M2x, pictured right), James Clarke (LM4- ) Alice Freeman (W8+) and Louisa Reeve (W8+ and W2-) represent GB at the Beijing Olympics
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
DUBC athletes win the Elite 2- The Redgrave Trophy and the Senior 2x at HWR
2008-2009
175 years of durham university rowing exhibition
The 175 Years of Durham University Rowing exhibition, held at the River and Rowing Museum in Henley Upon Thames, highlighted ‘the inspiring story behind one of the most successful university boat clubs in Britain’.
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
A Durham University & Oxford Brookes University composite win the Prince of Wales Challenge Cup at HRR
DUBC Intermediate Coxed Four win the HWR Cathy Cruickshank Trophy
2010
DUBC runs the inaugural year of the Winter Challenge Cup
The Women’s 1st VIII finish 3rd at WEHORR and win the university pennant
A Leander and DUBC composite win Visitors Challenge Cup at HRR
DUBC sees a win in the Elite 4- Avril Vellacott Cup in a DUBC, Glasgow RC and Nottingham RC composite crew
Will Fletcher (LM4-, pictured far left), 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 gold at the World University Rowing Championships in the M8+ and the W4- respectively
2011
DUBC women win the Intermediate Academic Coxed Fours at HWR (crew: F.Cox, R.Martin, J.Stephenson, R.Minikin, A.Beake)
DUBC women place as third university crew at WEHORR
2012
New multi-million pound facilities opened for the club at the Durham University Maiden Castle sports facility, including a powered indoor rowing tank, one of only three in the country at the time, the new Robert Gillespie Boathouse and a 28 station ergo gallery.
The rowing tank was later named the Sophie Hosking Rowing Tank in honour of Sophie Hosking, an Olympic gold medallist and DUBC Alumna.
Further to updated facilities, club successes in this year include:
DUBC alumna Sophie Hosking wins a Gold medal at the 2012 Olympics (pictured, right)
Current student Lily van den Broecke wins a Gold medal at the 2012 Paralympics
The 1st VIII win the Bernard Churcher Trophy at HORR