University rowing in the United Kingdom#BUCS

Image:BUSA Head UBBC WC4+.JPG

Most universities compete in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Championships with a number of events over the year. For non-indoor events, boats are separated into Championship (where "BUCS points" are available), Intermediate and Beginner (for students in their first year of the sport).

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

BUCS events contribute "BUCS Points" (for Championship boats) towards the (multi-sport) BUCS championship. Since 2011–12, a breakdown of points by sport has also been available. The highest ranked universities in rowing since then have been:

The Small Boats Head is held in October. The event was introduced in 2006 and first held on the Trent in Nottingham, small boats having previously competed in the BUSA Championship Head.{{cite web|url=http://bucs.org.uk/news.asp?itemid=538&itemTitle=The+BUR+BUSA+Small;+Boats+Head%3A+Doubles%2C+Brothers%2C+Twins+and+Pairs§ion=8§ionTitle=News|title=The BUR BUSA Small Boats Head: Doubles, Brothers, Twins and Pairs|date= 31 October 2006|publisher=BUCS}} The 2007 event, held in December, saw 4s included in the Small Boats Head and Durham compete for the first time, dominating the medal table.{{cite web|title=BUSA SMALL BOATS HEAD 2007 |url=http://bucs.org.uk/news.asp?itemid=1279&itemTitle=BUSA+SMALL+BOATS+HEAD+2007§ion=8§ionTitle=News|date= 3 December 2007|publisher=BUCS}} In 2008 the event was again held in October but moved to the Witham in Boston, Lincolnshire,{{cite web|url=http://bucs.org.uk/news.asp?itemid=2059&itemTitle=Student+rowers+to+prove+themselves+ready+at+the+BUCS+Small+Boats+Head§ion=8§ionTitle=News|title=Student rowers to prove themselves ready at the BUCS Small Boats Head|date= 22 October 2008|publisher=BUCS}} where it now runs in conjunction with the GB Rowing Team 1st Senior/U23 Assessment.{{cite web|url=http://bucs.org.uk/news.asp?itemid=4491&itemTitle=Durham+dominate+at+PricewaterhouseCoopers+Small+Boats+Head§ion=8§ionTitle=News|title=Durham dominate at PricewaterhouseCoopers Small Boats Head|date= 28 October 2009|publisher=BUCS}} The 2012 head saw Durham's dominance finally broken as, with only the double sculls racing, Imperial topped the medal table with a single gold, a silver and a bronze. Imperial won again the following year, with only the single sculls racing.

Note that as the Small Boats Head is an autumn event, the 4s and 8s Head and Regatta from the same BUCS season are held on the following year, e.g. the 2015 Small Boats Head is part of the 2015–16 BUCS season along with the 2016 4s and 8s Head and the 2016 Regatta.

BUCS Rowing and British Rowing have managed an annual autumn indoor rowing series at a number of universities and other centres across the UK since 2010, when it started with 11 centres and ran from late November to mid December.{{cite web|url=http://www.bucs.org.uk/page.asp?section=17734§ionTitle=Indoor+Championships|title=Indoor Championships|publisher=BUCS|access-date=26 February 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://bucs.org.uk/page.asp?section=16114§ionTitle=2010%2D11|title=Rowing Archived Results 2010–11|publisher=BUCS|access-date=28 February 2017}} In 2016, thirteen centres hosted events from late October to the end of November.{{cite web|url=http://www.bucs.org.uk/core/core_picker/download.asp?id=31851|title=UIRS 2016 – host venues|publisher=BUCS|access-date=26 February 2017}}

This is a {{convert|5|km|mi}} head race which has been run in February or March since 2003 (originally as the BUSA Championship Head).{{cite web|url=http://bucs.org.uk/news.asp?itemid=112&itemTitle=ROWING%2DBUSA+Head+of+River§ion=8§ionTitle=News|title=ROWING-BUSA Head of River |date = 5 March 2003|publisher=BUCS|access-date=28 February 2017}} The event grew rapidly, becoming the largest university heads race in the world by 2007, despite the small boats being split into a separate head (see above) after the 2006 event.{{cite web|url=http://bucs.org.uk/news.asp?itemid=830&itemTitle=Oxford+Brookes+Dominate+the+BUSA+Head+of+the+River+Championships§ion=8§ionTitle=News|title=Oxford Brookes Dominate the BUSA Head of the River Championships|date=28 February 2007|quote=Over 1,300 athletes in 365 crews contested the BUSA BUR Championship Head, now the largest University Head race in the world in only its fourth year|publisher=BUCS|access-date=28 February 2017}} It was held on the River Trent in Nottingham until 2009, when the decision was made to move the event to the River Nene in Peterborough, and to split the competition into 2 separate days, with Beginners racing over a shorter {{convert|3|km|mi}} course on one day, and Seniors racing on the longer course on the other. However, due to inclement weather, the event was cancelled.{{cite web|url=https://www.britishrowing.org/2009/02/bucs-head-cancelled/|title=BUCS Head cancelled|date=13 February 2009|publisher=British Rowing|access-date=26 February 2017}} The event was again held in Peterborough in 2010, 2011 and 2012, and was due to be held there in 2013. However, due to flooding, the event was moved to Boston that year,{{cite web|url=https://www.britishrowing.org/2013/02/beginners-boating-in-boston/|title=Beginners boating in Boston|date=14 February 2013|access-date=26 February 2017|publisher=British Rowing}} with Newcastle topping the medal table.{{cite web|url=https://www.britishrowing.org/2013/02/student-rowers-have-a-ball-in-boston/|title=Student rowers have a ball in Boston|date=19 February 2013|publisher=British Rowing|access-date=26 February 2017}}

The 2014 event was cancelled due to bad weather,{{cite web|url=https://www.britishrowing.org/2014/02/the-south-west-university-showdown/|title=The South West University Showdown|date=24 February 2014|access-date=26 February 2017|publisher=British Rowing}} It was held in Boston again in 2015, with racing on Saturday only for the intermediate and championship crews. Newcastle topped the medal table and won the men's Victor Ludorum while Durham, who were second in the medal table, took the women's Victor Ludorum and the overall Victor Ludorum.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017154127/http://www.bucs.org.uk/page.asp?section=15324§ionTitle=4s+and+8s+Head|title=4s and 8s Head|url=http://www.bucs.org.uk/page.asp?section=15324§ionTitle=4s+and+8s+Head|access-date=26 February 2017|archive-date=17 October 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.teamdurham.com/?itemno=24017|title=DUBC top the points table at BUCS 4s and 8s|date=7 March 2015|access-date=28 February 2017|website=Team Durham|publisher=Durham University}}

In 2015, BUCS sought a new host for a three-year period (2016–2018).{{cite web|url=https://www.britishrowing.org/2015/07/host-club-sought-for-bucs-4s-and-8s-head/|title=Host club sought for BUCS 4s and 8s Head|date=31 July 2015|access-date=26 February 2017|publisher=British Rowing}} The event subsequently moved to the Tyne, hosted by Tyne United Rowing Club, Tyne Amateur Rowing Club and Newcastle University Boat Club in 2016. Newcastle won both the overall and men's Victor Ludorum, with Edinburgh winning the women's Victor Ludorum.{{cite web|url=http://www.tynerowingclub.org/pages/bucs_head_heads_to_the_tyne_256551.cfm|title=BUCS 4s & 8s Head on the Tyne| access-date=26 February 2017|publisher=Tyne Rowing Club}} The first day of the 2017 event, also on the Tyne, had to be cancelled due to poor weather, but the second day (for senior crews) went ahead, with London topping the medal table and taking the Victor Ludorum. The 2018 event saw separate men's and women's Victor Ludorum awards, with London taking the women's prize and Newcastle taking the men's.{{cite web|url=https://www.bucs.org.uk/core/core_picker/download.asp?id=35853|title=BUCS Rowing 4s and 8s head 2018|publisher=BUCS|access-date=16 August 2018}} From 2019, the event was to be held for three years on the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, hosted by the University of Bristol, Hartpury University Centre and Gloucester Rowing Club.{{cite web|url=https://www.bucs.org.uk/news.asp?itemid=27724&itemTitle=BUCS+Rowing+heads+to+South+West+venue+for+next+three+years§ion=8§ionTitle=News|title=BUCS Rowing heads to South West venue for next three years |date= 1 June 2018|access-date=16 August 2018|publisher=BUCS}} Newcastle took the Men's and Overall Victor Ludorum in 2019, with Edinburgh taking the Women's.{{cite web|url=https://www.bucs.org.uk/core/core_picker/download.asp?id=38585|title=BUCS 4s & 8s Head 2019|publisher=BUCS|access-date=9 June 2019}} However, it reverted to the Tyne in 2020 after only one year.{{cite web|url=https://www.bucs.org.uk/resources-page/bucs-rowing-dates-annouced.html|title=BUCS Rowing dates announced|access-date=9 March 2020|date=3 September 2019|work=BUCS}} The 2020 event was shortened due to bad weather, with only the intermediate and championship races taking place. Newcastle University topped the medal table with ten medals, four gold,{{cite news|url=https://www.palatinate.org.uk/durham-university-boat-club-battle-storm-dennis-to-claim-seven-medals-at-bucs-head-in-newcastle/|title=Durham University Boat Club battle Storm Dennis to claim seven medals at BUCS Head in Newcastle|date=5 March 2020|author=Ella Bicknell|work=Palatinate}} as well as winning the men's, women's and overall Victor Ludorum.{{cite web |url=http://newcastlerowing.com/bucs-head-2020/ |access-date=2023-04-10 |work=Newcastle University Boat Club |author=Fergus Mainland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807010841/https://www.newcastlerowing.com/bucs-head-2020/ |archive-date=2020-08-07 |title=BUCS Head 2020 |lang=en |date=25 February 2020}} The 2021 event was cancelled due to COVID, but it returned to the Tyne for 2022 and 2023.{{cite web|url=http://www.tynerowingclub.org/pages/bucs_4s_amp_8s_head_267248.cfm|access-date=19 February 2023| title=BUCS 4s & 8s Head|website=Tyne Rowing Club}} Newcastle took the overall and men's Victor Ludorum in 2022, with Durham taking the women's.{{cite web|url=https://www.bucs.org.uk/events-page/bucs-rowing-4s-8s-head.html?tab=Results|title=Rowing: 4s & 8s Head 2021-22|website=BUCS|access-date=19 February 2023}} In 2023, Durham achieved a clean sweep with the women's, men's and overall Victor Ludorum.{{cite web|url=https://www.durham.ac.uk/colleges-and-student-experience/team-durham/news/victor-ludorum-at-bucs-head-11-years-in-the-making/|title=Victor Ludorum at BUCS Head, 11 Years in the Making|date=21 February 2023|website=Durham University|access-date=21 February 2023}}

Image:Zbusa regatta 2003 MN8 A1.JPG

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).

The regatta was first run (as the BUSA regatta) in 1994, replacing the UAU 'Regatta' that had been a two-hour slot for University races in the Nottingham City Regatta. The first Regatta attracted 105 crews; by 2000 this had grown to 354.{{cite web|url=http://www.total.rowing.org.uk/busa01.html|author=Nigel Mayglothling |title=BUSA Rowing Regatta 2001|access-date=16 October 2015}} The 2001 Regatta was the first to be held over two days, and attracted over 500 crews.{{cite web|url=http://www.rowingservice.com/BUSA/|title=Holme Pierrepont, 28th–29th April 2001|author=Nigel Mayglothling|access-date=16 October 2015}} In 2006 the Regatta grew to three days with almost 1000 crews taking part.{{cite web|url=http://newcastlerowing.com/2006/05/busa-regatta-success/|title=BUSA Regatta Success|publisher=Newcastle University Boat Club|date=2 May 2006|access-date=17 October 2015}}

In its early years the Regatta was dominated by Nottingham, but in 2004 it was won for the first time by Durham.{{cite web|url=https://www.dur.ac.uk/news/newsitem/?itemno=3625| title=Students add Rowing to Rugby and Cricket titles|date=4 May 2004|access-date=10 October 2015|publisher=Durham University|quote=the winning handful of points needed to unseat Nottingham University, the champions for the past seven years}}{{cite web|url=http://dubc.co.uk/CMS/the-club/chronology/|title=The History of Durham University Boat Club|publisher=Durham University Boat Club|quote=2004 … DUBC won the BUSA Regatta winning the Eric Halladay Memorial trophy, the first time that Nottingham had ever lost the title.|access-date=10 October 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018092332/http://dubc.co.uk/CMS/the-club/chronology/|archive-date=18 October 2015|df=dmy-all}} In 2005 Durham were 1st again, followed by Reading University in 2nd place and University of London behind them in 3rd place. Durham's dominance continued until 2014, when London took the trophy, with Durham 2nd and Imperial College 3rd.

2014 also saw the introduction of separate Victor Ludorum trophies for men's and women's teams in addition to the overall trophy: Durham took the women's prize and Imperial the men's.{{cite web|url=http://www.britishrowing.org/news/2014/may/6/students-shine-2014-bucs-regatta|title=Students shine at 2014 BUCS Regatta|date=6 May 2014|access-date=10 October 2015|publisher=British Rowing|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227162226/http://www.britishrowing.org/news/2014/may/6/students-shine-2014-bucs-regatta|archive-date=27 February 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} 2015 saw Durham retain the women's title and Newcastle the men's, with Durham taking the overall title. Newcastle's men retained their trophy in 2016 and Newcastle University won the overall trophy for the first time. The University of London won the 2016 women's trophy on gold medal count, having finished equal on points with Exeter.{{cite web|url=http://www.bucs.org.uk/news.asp?itemid=20662&itemTitle=BUCS+Regatta+2016%3A+Day+three+round+up§ion=8§ionTitle=News|title=BUCS Regatta 2016: Day three round up 02/05/2016|access-date=3 May 2016|publisher=BUCS}}

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.

Results{{cite web|title=Archived Results|url=http://www.bucs.org.uk/page.asp?section=3481§ionTitle=Archived+Results|publisher=BUCS|access-date=11 February 2013}}

The Head of the River Race for men's eights, rowed on the Championship Course on the Tideway, awarded the Ortner Shield (named after Reading University coach Frank Ortner) to the fastest University Athletics Union (UAU) crew (later BUSA crew) from 1961 to 2005. The first winners were Reading, but the shield was dominated by Durham from the mid 1960s to the mid 1980s, who also won the final shield in 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.horr.co.uk/wordpress/results-archive/|title=Results Archive|publisher=Head of the River Race|access-date=14 March 2017}}

In 2006 the "University Prize" replaced the Ortner Shield. This was restricted to university and college crews of Senior 2 (now Intermediate 1) status or lower, with no higher-status entries from that institute, affiliated to British Rowing, Scottish Rowing or Welsh Rowing.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060106144021/http://www.horr.co.uk/|archive-date=6 January 2006|url=http://www.horr.co.uk/|title=THE HEAD OF THE RIVER RACE – 2006|publisher=Head of the River Race|access-date=14 March 2017}} This was later renamed the Halladay Trophy, after Durham coach Eric Halladay, and joined by the Bernard Churcher Trophy, an unrestricted prize for universities from anywhere in the world – boats may only be entered for one of these trophies, even if eligible for both.{{cite web|url=http://www.horr.co.uk/wordpress/bernard-churcher-trophy-halladay-trophy-entry-criteria/|title=Bernard Churcher Trophy & Halladay Trophy: Entry criteria|publisher=Head of the River Race|access-date=14 March 2017}}

The Women's Eights Head of the River Race is, like the men's counterpart, raced on the Championship Course on the Tideway. University crews from anywhere in the world compete for the University Pennant; from 1999 to 2005 there was also a separate prize for the top BUSA-affiliated crew.{{cite web|url=http://wehorr.org/pennants-trophies/|title=Pennants and Trophies|publisher=Women's Eights Head of the River Race|access-date=16 March 2017}}{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010304092549/http://www.wehorr.org/WEHORR_General_info.htm|archive-date=4 March 2001|title=General Information|url=http://www.wehorr.org/WEHORR_General_info.htm|publisher=Women's Eights Head of the River Race|access-date=16 March 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://wehorr.org/results/#|title=Results|publisher=Women's Eights Head of the River Race|access-date=16 March 2017}}

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

• Oxford and Cambridge – The Boat Race and Women's Boat Race (The Boat Races) and the Henley Boat Races
• Durham and Newcastle – The Boat Race of the North
• Bristol and UWE – Bristol Boat Race
• Edinburgh and Glasgow – The Scottish Boat Race
• De Montfort University and University of Leicester – Varsity of Leicester
• Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University – Aberdeen Universities Boat Race
• Manchester and Salford – Two Cities Boat Race
• Birmingham and University of Warwick – Varsity Boat Race
• Trinity College, Dublin and Queens University Belfast – Irish University Boat Race
• Swansea University and Cardiff University – The Welsh Boat Race
• University of Stirling and University of Dundee – Tayforth Boat Race

Some universities include rowing in multi-sport inter-university competitions:

• University College London Boat Club and King's College London Boat Club – Part of the London Varsity Series
• 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 – part of the Christie Cup
• University of Northumbria and Newcastle University – part of the Stan Calvert Cup
• University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University – part of the Varsity
• Kingston Student Rowing Club and University of Surrey Boat Club – part of the Varsity (until 2016)
• York and Lancaster – Part of Roses Tournament
• University of Derby and University of Northampton – Part of the Varsity Match

Collegiate universities also hold inter-collegiate competitions. The include:

• Cambridge (organised by Cambridge University Combined Boat Clubs):
• University IVs
• Lent Bumps
• Small Boats Regatta
• May Bumps
• Durham (organised by Durham College Rowing):
• Novice Cup - a coxed IV regatta held in the first term for new rowers.

{{cite web

| last = Durham College Rowing

| title = Novice Cup

| access-date = 2025-02-12

| url = https://durhamcollegerowing.webspace.durham.ac.uk/novice-cup/}}{{cite news|url=http://www.palatinate.org.uk/john-snow-and-johns-thrive-in-revamped-novice-cup/|title=John Snow and John's thrive in revamped Novice Cup|date=11 December 2016|author= James Martland|work=Palatinate}} Formerly known as the Hatfield Cup until 2003, when Durham College Rowing took over the organising of the event.

{{cite web

|last = HEADS OF HOUSE COMMITTEE

|title = Minutes AoB (d)(i)

|accessdate = 2009-08-21

|url = http://www.dur.ac.uk/committees/Committee-of-Heads-of-House/2002-12-18m.pdf

|url-status = dead

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20121013071124/http://www.dur.ac.uk/committees/Committee-of-Heads-of-House/2002-12-18m.pdf

|archivedate = 2012-10-13

}}

• Novice Head - a 1.8 km upstream head race for novice coxed IVs.

{{cite web

| last = Durham College Rowing

| title = Novice Head

| access-date = 2025-02-12

| url = https://durhamcollegerowing.webspace.durham.ac.uk/novice-head/}}

• Senate Cup - a regatta for men's and women's coxed IVs.{{cite news|url=http://www.palatinate.org.uk/trevelyan-lift-the-senate-cup/|title=Trevelyan lift the Senate Cup|date= 7 February 2011|author=Hannah Bolt|work=Palatinate}}

{{cite web

| last = Durham College Rowing

| title = Senate Cup

| access-date = 2025-02-12

| url = https://durhamcollegerowing.webspace.durham.ac.uk/senate-cup/}}

• Senate Head - a 1.8 km upstream head race for experienced coxed IVs.

{{cite web

| last = Durham College Rowing

| title = Senate Cup

| access-date = 2025-02-12

| url = https://durhamcollegerowing.webspace.durham.ac.uk/senate-head/}}

• Admirals Regatta - generally the final rowing event of the academic year.

• London:
• Allom Cup
• United Hospitals regatta, head race and bumps races (for London medical, veterinary and allied students)
• Oxford (organised by Oxford University Rowing Clubs):
• Autumn Fours
• Isis Winter League
• Torpids (bumps race)
• Eights Week (bumps race)

Durham college clubs are members of Durham College Rowing.

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.bucs.org.uk/sport.asp?section=721§ionTitle=Rowing BUCS (formerly BUSA) Rowing Page]

{{Rowing (sport)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:University Rowing (UK)}}

Category:Rowing in the United Kingdom

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