Newcastle University Boat Club

Newcastle University Boat Club (NUBC) is the rowing club of Newcastle University, UK. Established in March 1911 as the boat club for Armstrong College, it celebrated its centenary in 2011, when was also appointed High Performance Programme for heavyweight men and women by British Rowing. In the past 20 years current students and alumni won 60 international vests for GB.

Newcastle University Boat Club
Image showing the rowing club's blade colours
LocationNewburn
Home waterRiver Tyne
Founded1911 (1911)
AffiliationsBritish Rowing boat code NEW
BUCS
Websitenewcastlerowing.com
Events
Northumbrian University Boat Race
Notable members
Ed Coode, Alastair Heathcote, Henry Pelly, Fred Gill, James Rudkin, Emily Ford, Tom Ford, Lola Anderson, Will Stewart
Newcastle University Boat Club
Medal record
Rowing
Olympic Games
Representing  Great Britain
Gold medal – first place 2024 Paris M8+ James Rudkin, Tom Ford
Gold medal – first place 2024 Paris W4x Lola Anderson
Gold medal – first place 2004 Athens M4- Ed Coode
Silver medal – second place 2008 Beijing M8+ Alastair Heathcote
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Paris W8+ Emily Ford
Bronze medal – third place 2020 Tokyo M8+ James Rudkin, Tom Ford
World Championships
Representing  Great Britain
Gold medal – first place 2023 Belgrade M8+ James Rudkin, Tom Ford
Gold medal – first place 2022 Racice M8+ James Rudkin, Tom Ford
Gold medal – first place 2022 Racice M4- Will Stewart
Gold medal – first place 2001 Lucerne M4- Ed Coode
Gold medal – first place 1999 St Catherines M4- Ed Coode
Silver medal – second place 2010 Karapiro LTAMix4+ Kate Jones
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Belgrade W4x Lola Anderson
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Racice W4x Lola Anderson
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Linz M8+ James Rudkin, Tom Ford
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Plovdiv M8+ James Rudkin
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Plovdiv M4- Tom Ford
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Munich M8+ Alastair Heathcote
Bronze medal – third place 2003 Milan M8+ Ed Coode
Bronze medal – third place 1997 Aiguebelette M4+ Ed Coode
European Championships
Representing  Great Britain
Gold medal – first place 2024 Szeged M8+ James Rudkin, Tom Ford
Gold medal – first place 2024 Szeged W4x Lola Anderson
Gold medal – first place 2023 Bled M8+ James Rudkin, Tom Ford
Gold medal – first place 2022 Munich M8+ James Rudkin, Tom Ford
Gold medal – first place 2022 Munich M4- Will Stewart
Gold medal – first place 2022 Munich W4x Lola Anderson
Gold medal – first place 2021 Varese M8+ James Rudkin, Tom Ford
Silver medal – second place 2023 Szeged W8+ Emily Ford
Silver medal – second place 2023 Bled W8+ Emily Ford
Silver medal – second place 2022 Munich W8+ Emily Ford
Silver medal – second place 2022 Munich W2- Emily Ford
Silver medal – second place 2019 Lucerne M8+ James Rudkin, Tom Ford
Silver medal – second place 2018 Glasgow M4- Tom Ford
World U23 Championships
Representing  Great Britain
Gold medal – first place 2024 St Catherines W2- Holly Youd
Gold medal – first place 2022 Varese M4+ Bruce Turnell
Gold medal – first place 2019 Sarasota M8+ Will Stewart
Gold medal – first place 2019 Sarasota W4x Lola Anderson
Gold medal – first place 2016 Rotterdam LM4x Ollie Varley
Gold medal – first place 2000 Copenhagen W2- Ros Carslake
Silver medal – second place 2022 Varese W8+ Samuel Shuker
Silver medal – second place 2019 Sarasota M4+ Cormac Molloy
Silver medal – second place 2018 Poznan M8+ Will Stewart
Silver medal – second place 2016 Rotterdam W8+ Sasha Adwani
Silver medal – second place 2016 Rotterdam W8+ Emily Ford
Silver medal – second place 2016 Rotterdam M4- James Rudkin
Silver medal – second place 2014 Varese W8+ Nicole Lamb
Silver medal – second place 2013 Linz W8+ Nicole Lamb
Silver medal – second place 2005 Amsterdam LM4x Stephen Feeney
Silver medal – second place 1996 Hazewinkel M4+ Ed Coode
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Plodviv W8+ Nicole Lamb
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Plodviv W4- Emily Ford
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Linz LW4x Gemma Hall
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Trakai M4- George Rossiter
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Amsterdam M8+ George Rossiter
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Stratchlyde M4+ George Laughton
Representing  Ireland
Silver medal – second place 2018 Poznan LM4x Ryan Ballentine
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Sarasota LM4x Ryan Ballentine
European U23 Championships
Representing  Great Britain
Gold medal – first place 2021 Kruszwica M8+ Freddie Allinson
Silver medal – second place 2023 Krefeld M8+ Ben Brockway
Silver medal – second place 2017 Kruszwica M8+ Will Stewart, Alex Haynes
Bronze medal – third place 2021 Kruszwica M4+ Bruce Turnell
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Ioannina M8+ Daniel Graham, David Willcox, Freddie Allinson, Freddie Strawson
World University Championships
Representing  Great Britain
Gold medal – first place 2018 Shangaii M8+ James Robson
Gold medal – first place 2018 Shangaii W8+ Nathasha Harris - White
Gold medal – first place 2018 Shangaii W4- Nathasha Harris - White
Gold medal – first place 2016 Poznan M8+ Tim Clarke
Gold medal – first place 2016 Poznan M4- Oli Knight, Tom Ford
Gold medal – first place 2014 Gravelines M8+ Sam Arnot, Tim Clarke, Tom Ford, George Rossiter
Gold medal – first place 2010 Szeged M8+ Henry Pelly, Fred Gill, Stephen Feeney
Gold medal – first place 2006 Trakai M2x Henry Pelly, George Laughton
Silver medal – second place 2018 Shangaii W2- Frances Russell
Silver medal – second place 2014 Gravelines LW2x Gemma Hall
Silver medal – second place 2012 Kazan M8+ Ed Ford, Tim Clarke
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Gravelines LM4- Nicholas Buckle
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Belgrade M4+ George Laughton
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Belgrade M2- Mason Durant, Fred Gill
Australian Youth Olympics
Representing  Great Britain
Gold medal – first place 2012 Sydney W4- Nicole Lamb
Silver medal – second place 2013 Sydney W2- Nicole Lamb
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Sydney W8+ Nicole Lamb
Commonwealth Rowing Championships
Representing  England
Gold medal – first place 2014 Strathclyde (Multiple) Gemma Hall
Gold medal – first place 2014 Strathclyde (Multiple) Nicholas Buckle
Silver medal – second place 2014 Strathclyde (Multiple) Emily Ford
Representing  Northern Ireland
Silver medal – second place 2006 Stratchlyde M2x Richard Francis

Training facilities

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The club's private training facility in Newburn. The facilities have since been refurbished and an additional boathouse has been built.

The club trains on the River Tyne from a purpose-built boathouse on the south bank of the river in the village of Newburn, five miles upriver from the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne. Built in the 1950s, the boathouse is home to the clubs boats, private single sculls and coaching launches; was redeveloped with work finished in 2011. Rowers have access to 35 km (22 mi) of tidal water, extending from the picturesque parkland around Wylam, through the former industrial heartland of the city to Tynemouth. Whilst most training places place along the Wylam, Newburn and Blaydon stretches of river, extended paddles offers crews the opportunity to row under the famous Tyne Bridge on Newcastle's quayside.

Land training takes place at two sites within the city itself. The club uses the University Sports centre in Newcastle and Sports ground at Longbenton, with Concept2 rowing ergometers, RowPerfect and Concept2 Dyno machines and a fully stocked free weights suite. The club also has use of the university's main sports centre, with access to further rowing machines, weights facilities, fitness suite and sports halls for circuit training. Through the university's performance sports programme, elite rowers get access to free physiotherapy, sports massage, nutritional expertise and strength and conditioning coaching.

Boathouse refurbishment

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The club's current boathouse was built in 1953, and by 2009 was in a poor state of repair. Additionally, the growth of the club since 2005 meant that storage space was at a premium and expansion of existing boat racking was essential. In late-2009 the decision was taken by the university to commit £500,000 to a complete refurbishment of the building. When completed, the new facility will have brand new changing/showering facilities, warm-up/stretching area, kitchen and video analysis/meeting room. The existing boat storage area will be refitted with new sliding racks and a dedicated maintenance bay will be created. An additional boat shed has been constructed next to the current building, and it was completed in 2011.

Staff

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Newcastle University Boat Club winning the Prince Albert Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in 2008.

Italian coach, Angelo Savarino was appointed Head Coach of the club in 2005. Since then he has overseen a remarkable transformation of the club, with highlights including winning the Prince Albert Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in 2008, 2013 and 2017 and placing seventh at the Head of the River Race. The club has been a consistently strong performer at the British University and Colleges Sport Regatta, placing second overall in 2012. The club also employs women's head coach Alex Leigh, and assistant men's coach Julian Egan-Shuttler. The club also relies on a strong network of experienced volunteer coaches.

History

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Founding

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In 1904, Armstrong College was founded in Newcastle upon Tyne to teach physical sciences. At this time it was part of Durham University and the boat club – established in March 1911 – held the same status as other Durham colleges and competed in intercollegiate events. One of the first races was against the varsity third crew, who they beat and whose place they subsequently took at Durham Regatta. In 1924, a women's club was established and in 1929, the growing success of the club prompted to construction of a new boathouse on the River Tyne at Stella Haugh, the site of the Battle of Newburn.

The Boat Race of the North

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The Boat Race of the North is an annual challenge between the universities of Durham and Newcastle in a similar vein to the more famous Oxbridge Boat Race. It is now in its 15th year (2015). Although the event has been traditionally dominated by Durham, the Newcastle team were the overall winners for the first time in 2009, and retained the trophy since. The event is held annually on the River Tyne in central Newcastle upon Tyne in May and is well supported by local spectators. The event comprises four races: Men's Championship 8, Women's Championship 8, Men's Novice 8 and Women's Novice 8. The overall event winners are the university winning at least three races (a draw, with two races won each, leads to retention of the trophy by the previous year's winner). The 2010 races took place on 9 May. Both universities won two races: the event was therefore drawn and Newcastle retained the trophy. From 2011 to 2014 the event resulted in a forfeit to Newcastle University as Durham University declined to race. The Boat Race was back again in 2015 with Newcastle winning the two Championship events, and Durham the two Novices, with Newcastle retaining the trophy. In 2016, two new events were added: men's and women's reserves, Newcastle winning the two championship and reserve events, and Durham the two Novices. Newcastle won the trophy.

National and international achievements

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Prince Albert Challenge Cup Winners 2014

Since 1996 Newcastle students have been competing and medalling at the U23, Senior and University World Championships and other International Competitions such European Universities Championships, Duisburg Regatta, Memorial Paolo d'Aloja Regatta and Essen Regatta, with victories as well in UK at National Championships, Marlow Regatta, pennants in the Head of the River Race and Women's Eights Head of the River Race, wins at Henley Women's Regatta and at Henley Royal Regatta.

The Club won the Victor Ludorum at the British University Sports Association (BUCS) Regatta in 2016 and 2018, having been runners-up in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2012. The 2008 BUCS Regatta saw NUBC winning 4 out of 7 heavyweight events. NUBC came third in V.L. in 2010. In the 2011 BUCS regatta, the Newcastle men were winners in the Championship eight, coxed four and pair, and retained the Championship eight and pair titles in 2012.

Athletes from the club have recently and consistently won medals at World University Championships and U23 World Championships.

Honours

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Henley Royal Regatta (HRR) and Henley Women's Regatta (HWR) Wins

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Event[1] Regatta Winning Year Winning Crew
Championship Quadruple Sculls. The Borne Cup. HWR 2018 N. Lamb, A. Bowman, L. Anderson, F. Russell
Championship Lightweight Single Sculls. The George Innes Cup. HWR 2018 F. Chestnutt,
The Prince Albert Challenge Cup HRR 2017 W.New, A.Haynes, J.Robson, W.Stewart, A.Turner cox
Senior Coxless Fours. The Frank Harry V Cup. HWR 2017 E. Ford, L. Anderson, F. Russell, N. Lamb
Academic Eights. The Colgan Foundation Cup HWR 2017 K. Woolley, L. Knight, K. Eccles, A. van der Braak, C. Dobson, S. Denton-Chandler, P. Truett, L. Stanhope, C. Hill cox
Academic Eights The Sharp Cup HWR 2016 H.Roddy, L.Davis, I. Leigh, H. Brackenbury, C.Browne, R.Bennewith, B.Mullan, R.Price, E.Wood cox
Elite Coxless Fours The Avril Vellacott Cup HWR 2015 E.Ford (composite crew)
The Prince Albert Challenge Cup HRR 2014 J.Holst, T.Ford, J.Rudkin, S.Arnot, C.McRoberts cox
Elite Lightweight Quad Sculls The Rankine Trophy HWR 2014 G.Hall (composite crew)
Senior Coxed Fours The Frank Harry Cup HWR 2013 N.Lamb, N.Hardy, N. Hardy, R.Rust, L.Dobson cox
Elite Quad Sculls The Borne Cup HWR 2013 G.Hall (composite crew)
Elite Lightweight Quad Sculls The Rankine Trophy HWR 2013 G.Hall (composite crew)
Senior Eights The GP Jeffreis Cup HWR 2012 N.Lamb, I.Vyvyan, P. Neill, G.Hall, H.Broad, C.Irving, G.Parry, R.Rust, L.Dobson cox
Academic Eights The Pricewaterhouse Coopers Cup HWR 2009 L.Woods, E.Field, R.Skarra, M.Flaate, A.Wilson, A.Hodges, M.Jones-Walters, E.Earp, R.Macphee cox
The Prince Albert Challenge Cup HRR 2008 N.O'Reilly, M.Wilkojc, M.Durant, F.Gill, C.Johnson cox
Intermediate College Coxed Fours HWR 1995 R.Ingledew, R.Turner, E.Ogren, J.Maguire, J.Knight cox

National champions

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Year Winning crew/s
1997 Men 4+
2000 Women 2-
2007 Women U23 2x[2]
2008 Open U23 1x, Women U23 2x [3]
2009 Open U23 2x, Women U23 1x[4]
2010 Open U23 2x [5]
2011 Open Ltw4-, Open U23 2x [6]
2012 Open Ltw2-, Open 4+ [7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Past Results". Newcastle Rowing. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  2. ^ "2007 archive of results". Web Archive. Archived from the original on 6 December 2016.
  3. ^ "2008 archive of results". Web Archive. Archived from the original on 6 December 2016.
  4. ^ "2009 archive of results". Web Archive. Archived from the original on 6 December 2016.
  5. ^ "2010 Championships - Results of Sunday Racing". British Rowing Championships. Archived from the original on 6 December 2016.
  6. ^ "2011 Championships - Results of Sunday Racing". British Rowing Championships. Archived from the original on 6 December 2016.
  7. ^ "2012 results". Web Archive. Archived from the original on 6 December 2016.
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54°58′47″N 1°44′37″W / 54.9798°N 1.7436°W / 54.9798; -1.7436