The Boat Race of the North explained

The Boat Race of the North
Contested by
DUBCNUBC
First boat race18 May 1997
Current championNewcastle (2022)
CourseRedheugh Bridge to Gateshead Millennium Bridge
River Tyne, Newcastle
Course length
SponsorNorthumbrian Water (− 2010)
NE1 (2015 –)
Siemens (2017 –)
Number of wins
DurhamNewcastle
88
4 draws
Official website

The Boat Race of the North is an annual rowing event between the boat clubs of Durham and Newcastle universities in England. The event is usually staged on the River Tyne in Newcastle, although the 2018 race was held on the River Wear in Durham.

The inaugural event took place on 18 May 1997. Durham won eight of the first twelve competitions, before a hiatus between 2011 and 2014. Races recommenced in 2015, and Newcastle has won six of the seven events since then.

The event was sponsored for a number of years until 2010 by Northumbrian Water, and hence was known as the Northumbrian Water University Boat Race for this period.[1] Since 2015 the race had been sponsored by the NE1 business development company, with Siemens also sponsoring from 2017, when the race became the Siemens Boat Race of the North.[2] [3]

Races

The main rowing event consists of six races (from 2016), with trophies for the first and novice eights commemorating 19th century Tyne rowers[4]

RaceTrophy
1Men's senior eightsThe Clasper Trophy
2Women's senior eightsThe Chambers Trophy
3Men's novice eightsThe Renforth Trophy
4Women's novice eightsThe Taylor Trophy
5Men's second eights-
6Women's second eights-

Local entertainment is often provided, and other spectacles such as a parade of tall ships, a University Sailing Contest and a University Canoe Water Polo contest have enlivened the atmosphere prior to the main race.

Presentations are made after the races have finished in Baltic Square on the Gateshead side of the river.

The 2006 race and the crews' build up to the race was filmed for an ITV television show about rowing in the North East.[5]

A race for junior rowers takes place before the main university races over the same course. It is usually contested between Tyne Amateur Rowing Club representing Newcastle and a composite of Durham Schools (usually Durham School and St Leonard's) representing Durham. The event does not count towards the overall trophy.

Recent years

2009 event

The 2009 boat race took place on Saturday 9 May; this was the 13th event, although only ten of the twelve prior competitions had taken place, owing to bad weather. River-based entertainment started at 3:30pm, with the start of racing at 4:40pm.[6] Newcastle took the overall title for the first time.

2010 event

In 2010 the event was held on Sunday 9 May, beginning at 1:00pm, following a race between schoolchildren (won by the Durham crew).[4] It was moved from the Saturday to get better spectator numbers.[7] The Boat Race was a draw, with Newcastle taking both the Freshmen's and Freshwomen's races and Durham both Senior races.[8]

2011 & 2012 events

The 2011 boat race was scheduled to take place on Saturday 7 May 2011 at 5pm. There had been tensions between the teams the previous year, and the weekend before, all four Newcastle boats (Men's senior eights & Freshmen and Women's senior eights & Freshwomen) had beaten their Durham counterparts in finals at the BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) Regatta held at Nottingham. Durham declined to challenge Newcastle for the Boat Race trophies and conceded all races for this year without a contest. Newcastle therefore retained the overall trophy. In 2012, Durham again declined to challenge, leading to the event being abandoned until revived in 2015.[9] [10]

2015 event

In 2015, the race was held on Saturday 9 May. Durham won both Women's and Men's Beginner races by 1 1/4 lengths and a canvas respectively. Newcastle Senior Women fought back with a win by 2 lengths, setting up a decider between the Senior Men. Newcastle won the Senior Men's race by 3 lengths. Newcastle retained the trophy.

2016 event

The 2016 race took place on 7 May 2016. In addition to the four main races, there was also a race between the men's and women's 2nd eights as well as race between local rivals Tyne Rowing Club and Tyne United Rowing Club.[11]

Newcastle's Women won their 1st and 2nd eight races by 2 ¾ and 4 lengths respectively and Newcastle's Men won their 1st and 2nd eight races by 2 ¼ and 2 ¾ lengths respectively. Durham won both the Women's and Men's beginner races by 2 ¾ lengths and ¼ lengths respectively. Therefore, Newcastle won overall.[12]

In the club competition, Tyne Rowing Club beat Tyne United Rowing Club.

2018 event

The 2018 race was scheduled for 17 March 2018 but bad weather forced the event to be postponed. A reduced Boat Race, featuring only the senior men's and women's teams, took place alongside the Durham Regatta on 9 June, meaning that the race took place on the River Wear for the first time in its history. Newcastle won both races to retain the overall trophy, the men's team by three feet and the women's team by 1 ¾ lengths.[13]

2019 event

The 2019 event took place on the same day as the Heineken Cup final for European club rugby at St James' Park, with the "fanzone" for the rugby being located at the quayside. Large screens broadcast both the rising and the rugby to the crowds.[14] Newcastle won all six races over a 1500m course from Redheugh Bridge to the Millennium Bridge. Beginner races were replaced by 3rd eights.[15]

2021 event

The race was not held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed in 2021. Newcastle againwon all six races.[16]

2022 event

The 2022 races took place on 9 May 2022. Durham won the men's senior 8 race for the first time since the race was revived in 2015, and also took the women's 2nd 8 title, but the remaining four races were won by Newcastle, who took overall victory and retained the trophy.[17]

2023 event

The Boat Race of the North in 2023 was held on Newcastle & Gateshead Quayside from 2pm on Saturday 6 May after the coronation of King Charles III.[18] Newcastle University were once again victorious, retaining the title by winning 5 of the 6 races.[19]

Results

YearRace NumberSenior 8 - MenSenior 8 - Women2nd 8 - Men2nd 8 - Women3rd 8 - Men3rd 8 - WomenOverall
202322DurhamNewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastle Win
202221DurhamNewcastleNewcastleDurhamNewcastleNewcastleNewcastle Win
202120NewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastle Win
2020Cancelled - Newcastle retain trophy
201919NewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastle Win
201818NewcastleNewcastleNewcastle Win
201717NewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastleDurhamNewcastle Win
201616NewcastleNewcastleNewcastleNewcastleDurhamDurhamNewcastle Win
201515NewcastleNewcastleDurhamDurhamDraw - Newcastle retain trophy
2014Not contested - Newcastle retain trophy
2013Not contested - Newcastle retain trophy
2012Not contested - Newcastle retain trophy
2011Not contested - Newcastle retain trophy
201014DurhamDurhamNewcastleNewcastleDraw - Newcastle retain trophy
2009[20] 13NewcastleNewcastleNewcastleDurhamNewcastle Win
2008[21] 12DurhamDurhamDurhamDurhamDurham Win
200711NewcastleDurhamDurhamNewcastleDraw - Durham retain Trophy
200610DurhamDurhamNewcastleDurhamDurham Win
20059NewcastleDurhamDurhamNewcastleDraw - Durham retain Trophy
20048DurhamDurhamDurhamDurhamDurham Win
20037NewcastleCancelled - Durham retain Trophy
20026DurhamDurhamNewcastleDurhamDurham Win
20015DurhamNewcastleDurhamDurham Win
20004Cancelled - Durham retain Trophy
19993DurhamNewcastleDurhamDurham Win
19982DurhamDurhamNewcastleDurham Win
19971DurhamDurhamDurhamDurham Win
TotalsDurham 10
Newcastle 9
Newcastle 10
Durham 9
Newcastle 5
Durham 0
Newcastle 4
Durham 1
Durham 9
Newcastle 10
Durham 8
Newcastle 8
Durham 8
Newcastle 8
4 draws

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: News Issue 68 . North East Rowing . 11 May 2024 . June 1998.
  2. Web site: Taking part in the Boat Race of the North. Edward Gleadow. 5 May 2016. Durham University.
  3. Web site: The Siemens Boat Race of the North . NUBC . 30 June 2018.
  4. Web site: University boat race honours Tyne rowing heroes . BBC News . 26 April 2010 . 29 April 2010.
  5. Web site: The Boat Race of the North. 11 March 2016. Vimeo.
  6. Web site: Annual University Boat Race challenge is issued . Newcastle University . 27 April 2009 . 28 April 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120306015435/http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/press.release/item/annual-university-boat-race-challenge-is-issued/ . 6 March 2012 .
  7. Web site: Local men lead Universities into oarsome battle . Newcastle University . 26 April 2010 . 29 April 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100509150236/http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/press.release/item/local-men-lead-universities-into-oarsome-battle . May 9, 2010 .
  8. Web site: Honours even in 14th University Boat Race . Melanie Reed. Newcastle University. Northumbrian Water. 9 May 2010 . 11 March 2016.
  9. News: Aboat time! Newcastle vs Durham boat race is back. The Tab. Isabella Eckert.
  10. Web site: The Boat Race of the North returns. 4 May 2015. The Courier Online.
  11. Web site: The Boat Race of the North is set to row down the River Tyne in May. 20 April 2016. Sarah Jeffery. ChronicleLive.
  12. Web site: Newcastle crowned Champions of the North at Boat Race 2016. Newcastle University Boat Club. 2 August 2016. Kelsey Stoddart.
  13. News: The Courier . Durham beaten on home waters by Blue Stars . 30 June 2018 . 24 June 2018.
  14. News: Boat Race of the North adds to Newcastle's weekend of sporting action for rowing and rugby fans. ChronicleLive. 11 May 2019. Barbara Hodgson.
  15. News: Boat Race victory for Newcastle over North East Neighbours Durham. The Courier. Maggie Elstob. 20 May 2019.
  16. News: Joy as Siemens Boat Race of the North returns to River Tyne - with victory for Newcastle University. Sonia Sharma. 5 June 2021. ChronicleLive.
  17. News: Durham turn heads at Siemens’ Boat Race of the North but Newcastle retain title in style. Toby Bryant. 9 May 2022. NewcastleWorld.
  18. Web site: Navigation Notice No 5 of 2023 - Rowing Event . Port of Tyne . 1 May 2023.
  19. News: Durham University defeated by Newcastle University for eighth year in a row in Boat Race of the North. 24 May 2023. Palatinate. Becks Fleet.
  20. Web site: Newcastle claim first Boat Race title . . 9 May 2009 . 9 May 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090522150958/http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/press.release/item/newcastle-claim-first-boat-race-title . 22 May 2009 .
  21. Web site: 12th University Boat Race . . 30 April 2008 . 30 September 2008.