University rowing (UK)

University rowing in the United Kingdom began when it was introduced to Oxford in the late 1700s. The first University Boat Race (between Oxford and Cambridge) was held in 1829. Today, many universities have a boat club and at the collegiate universities, Oxford, Cambridge, London, and Durham, each college has its own club as well as a main university club.

BUCS

Most universities compete in the British Universitiy College Sports (BUCS) championships with a number of events over the year. For non-indoor events, boats are separated into "Championship" (the 1st boat), "Junior" (any subsequent boats) and "Novice" (as defined by the ARA).

As of June 16 2008, UCS (who represented the professional staff working in the sector) and BUSA (the lead body for competitive sport in the sector) have merged to form "BUCS" - British Universities & Colleges Sport. Events from 2008/09 onwards will therefore come under the BUCS banner, rather than BUSA e.g. BUCS Regatta 2009.

BUCS Small Boats Head

The small boats Head is held in October. The event was introduced in 2004 and held on the Trent in Nottingham. The event has been in Nottingham every year until 2008 when it will be held in Boston as a combined event with GB Rowing U23 trials. The event will be held on Sunday 26th October 2008 at Boston Rowing Club.

BUCS Head of the River

A 5 km head race held on the River Trent in Nottingham during February or March. The competition is split into 3 divisions to cater for the vast number of entries. Categories are usually split with "Championship" men and "Championship" women in different divisions. This system continues with men's and women's "Junior", "Novice" and "Fresher Challenge" crews in opposite divisions. This system allows Universities to share their best boats between their best crews.

BUCS Regatta

A 2 km regatta held (usually at Holme Pierrepont) over the May Day weekend. Points for the Victor Ludorum are awarded for finishing places in the finals (more points for champ events and bigger boats). In 2005 Durham University Boat Club were 1st, followed by Reading University in 2nd place and UL behind them in 3rd place. DUBC followed up their wins in 2004 and 2005 by taking the title for a third time in 2006, and followed it up with an unprecedented fourth victory in 2007. In 2008 the BUSA regatta was held at Strathclyde Country Park, as NWSC was not available that weekend. Two weeks earlier, a BUSA Sprint Regatta was held at Cotswold Water Park, though the regatta had to be held as a time trial because the weather had prevented the course and stakeboats being laid .

Other competitions

A number of university boat clubs have organised annual races between themselves. These include:

*Oxford and Cambridge - University Boat Race
*Durham and Newcastle - Northumbrian Water University Boat Race
*Bristol and UWE - Bristol Boat Race
*Edinburgh and Glasgow - [http://www.edinburghglasgowboatrace.co.uk Edinburgh Glasgow University Boat Race]
*York and Lancaster - Part of Roses Tournament
*Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University - Aberdeen Universities Boat Race
*Manchester and Salford - Two Cities Boat Race
*University of London Colleges - Allom Cup
*Birmingham, Loughborough and Warwick - Varsity Boat Race
*Trinity College, Dublin and Queens University Belfast - Irish University Boat Race
*Swansea University and Cardiff University - Welsh boat race
* Queen Mary, University of London (non-medical section) and Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry (medical school of QMUL) - Part of the Merger Cup
*Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester - Christie Cup Competition

There are separate bumps races held every year for the Cambridge colleges, Oxford colleges, and London medical schools (called the "United Hospital Bumps").

University boat clubs

*Bournemouth University Boat Club
*University of Birmingham Boat Club
*Cambridge University Boat Club :*Cambridge University Women's Boat Club :*Christ's College Boat Club:*Downing College Boat Club:*First and Third Trinity Boat Club :*Homerton College Boat Club :*Jesus College Boat Club (Cambridge) :*Lady Margaret Boat Club :*Magdalene Boat Club (Cambridge):*Pembroke College Boat Club (Cambridge) :*Selwyn College Boat Club :*Sidney Sussex College Boat Club
*Durham University Boat Club :*Collingwood College Boat Club :*University College Boat Club
*Edinburgh University Boat Club
*Glasgow University Boat Club
*Imperial College Boat Club
*Oxford University Boat Club :*Hertford College Boat Club :*Brasenose College Boat Club (Oxford):*Jesus College Boat Club (Oxford) :*Pembroke College Boat Club (Oxford):*Mansfield College Boat Club (Oxford)
*Oxford Brookes University Boat Club
*Newcastle University Boat Club
*Nottingham University Boat Club
*Southampton University Boat Club
*University of Portsmouth Rowing Club
*Queen's University Belfast Boat Club
*Reading University Boat Club
*Swansea University Boat Club
*University of London Boat Club :*Royal Free and University College Medical School Boat Club:*Queen Mary, University of London Boat Club:*University College London Boat Club:*London School of Economics Boat Club:*St George's Hospital Medical School Boat Club:*King's College London Boat Club:*Royal Veterinary College Boat Club:*Royal Holloway University Boat Club:*St Bartholomew's and The Royal London Hopsitals' Boat Club

ee also

*List of rowing blades

External links

* [http://www.busa.org.uk/sport.asp?parent=20010001&section=0001000200010001&sport=200100010022 BUSA Rowing Page]