The Boat Race of the North is an annual rowing event between the boat clubs of Durham and Newcastle universities held on the River Tyne in Newcastle.
DUBC novice men celebrate their victory in style. Photo: Al Johnston
Newcastle Quayside
The inaugural event took place on 18 May 1997. The Race is held over a 1500 metre course from the Redheugh Bridge to the Millennium Bridge providing short and exciting racing under the world famous bridges of Newcastle.
The event was sponsored for a number of years by Northumbrian Water, and hence was known as the Northumbrian Water University Boat Race for this period. No races took place over the period 2011 – 2014, but the race resumed in 2015. Since 2015 the race had been sponsored by the NE1 business development company, with further sponsorship from Siemens in 2017. More recently the event has been unsponsored - if this is an opportunity that interests you or your business, please contact the club. Since 2016 the events contested have been Men’s and Women’s 1st VIIIs, 2nd and 3rd VIIIs (where applicable) and Novice VIIIs – those who took up the sport at the beginning of the year.
So far, Durham has won eight of the twenty contested titles. There have been four draws, in two cases Durham retained the trophy and in two cases Newcastle retained the Trophy. In 2009 Newcastle took the overall title for the first time.
Below is the results table as of 2023:
