Queen's University Belfast Boat Club
Encyclopedia
Queen's University Belfast Boat Club (QUBBC) is the Boat Club of Queen's University Belfast which is in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
. It is based on the River Lagan
in the Stranmillis
area of the city, about 10 minutes walk from the university.
was maintained at a low level throughout the war years; however, after the war the club really started making an impact, and under the vigorous Captaincy of F.J. Boyle (1944/45) it won the Wylie Cup (Irish University Championships) for the first time. Success continued under H.F. Jackson in 1945/46 when the club retained the Wylie Cup, and next year went to Henley Royal Reggatta for the first time. In 1947 a Queen's four won the Metropolitan Challenge Cup (the 'Blue Riband' of Irish Four rowing) and many other trophies. In 1951 the university provided a "temporary wooden structure" on the site of the present Club House, which was officially opened during the Captaincy of John Gorman, when the club went to the Putney Head of the River and came 13th.
From their newly established Club House, Queen's came to be a dominant force in Irish Rowing and a major Club in the University. Under John Alexander's captaincy Queen's won the Wylie Cup and the Irish Senior Championship (the 'Big Pot') in 1952. The Club won the 'Big Pot' five more times - 1953, 1956, 1957, 1959 and 1962. The victory in 1957 was remarkable because it was won by a 'second' Queen's crew, as the Championships were held during Henley Royal Regatta
. In 1958 the Queen's Senior Crew represented Northern Ireland in the Commonwealth Games Regatta instead of attending the National Championships. That crew reached the third round of the Thames Cup at Henley, as did the crew in 1959. Other divisions of the club did well, as the splendid record of the Wylie Cup shows: the only years Queen's failed to win the cup were 1958, 1959, 1961 and 1966. Queen's Junior (now Intermediate) crews won the National Championships in 1958, 1960, and 1962 and the Maiden (Novice) crews in 1953, 1955, 1961, 1963, 1967 and 1969. Membership of the Club was usually about 100 at the beginning of each year, and frequently 4 or 5 'eights' rowed right through the season form October to July. The social side of life was not neglected, and the Boat Club Dinner and Formal Dance were among the highlights of the Queen's year. In 1967 Queen's held a regatta on the Lagan; this became an annual event and eventually transferred to its present venue at Castlewellan
Lake.
at Henley. In 1976 also, the "temporary wooden structure" was at last replaced with a proper Club House. J.W.F. Boyd was captain when the Club's new home was opened and three 'eights' made up of past Captains and members rowed a short race to celebrate the occasion. After graduating many members rowed for Lady Victoria Boat Club or the newly founded Belfast Rowing Club (BRC). John Armstrong, Captain 1982-83, won both the Open and Lightweight Championships in 1983.
of James Cleland and Jonny Hill won the Irish championships and followed it up the next season by representing Ireland in the Home internationals and Northern Ireland in the Commonwealth Rowing Championships. In 2003 Queen's raced in the Head of the Charles
in Boston
for the first time, entering the championship and college 8's races. In 2005 Queens, under the captaincy of Chris Wylie, won the Intermidiate 8's championship of Ireland ahead of Neptune R.C
, and also won the University 8's event at Amsterdam
International Regatta beating Orca R.C
into second place.
In the 2008/2009 season QUBBC appointed its first professional coach who delivered immediate success with Queen's winning the Novice and Intermidiate Championships of Ireland as well as narrowly missing out on the Senior Championship. They also won the Wylie cup for the first time in 13 years and produced a strong showing at Henley Royal Regatta
- equalling the course record to the barrier as they competed in the Temple Challenge Cup
. 2010 saw Queen's win the Senior VIII and Senior 4X in the BUCS
Regatta and again fall to a narrow defeat in the Senior Championship of Ireland.
. The race is made to mirror the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race
which is held annually on the River Thames
.
In 2004 the race was held over 3,800 metres, in 2005 it was shortened to 2,700 metres, and in 2006 it was shortened again to 2,000 metres. Dr Robert Gamble of Queen's University Belfast in 2006 remarked, "this year’s race will be over the shorter distance of 1 mile and 550 yards, and is the same distance as the most prestigious rowing event in the calendar, Henley Royal Regatta."
The inaugural race was won by Trinity
, beating Queens by four lengths. The 2005 race was a thrilling contest, with the Queens crew holding off Trinity in the final stages to win by a length. Trinity took the 2006, 2007 and 2008 races. The 2009 race was won easily by QUBBC, with Queens crossing the finish line as Trinity passed under Governors Bridge. In 2010 Queens senior VIII again were victorious, betting Trinity by an even greater margin than in 2009. The series now stands at 4-3 in favour of Trinity.
John Armstrong – 1997 World Rowing Championships
, Bronze medal lightweight quad
Richard Archibald – Member of the Irish Lighweight
Coxless 4 in the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. It is based on the River Lagan
River Lagan
The River Lagan is a major river in Northern Ireland which runs 40 miles from the Slieve Croob mountain in County Down to Belfast where it enters Belfast Lough, an inlet of the Irish Sea. The River Lagan forms much of the border between County Antrim and County Down. It rises as a tiny fast...
in the Stranmillis
Stranmillis
Stranmillis is an area in south Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is also an electoral ward for Belfast City Council, part of the Laganbank district electoral area. As part of the Queen's Quarter, it is the location for prominent attractions such as the Ulster Museum and Botanic Gardens and is popular...
area of the city, about 10 minutes walk from the university.
1931–1951
The Queen's University of Belfast Boat Club was founded in 1931, due to the work of four founding members:- J.W. Rigby, D.B. McNeill, F. Maunsell and J.F. Doggart. Towards the end of January 1932 the newly-formed Club signed an agreement with Belfast Commercial Boat Club (BCBC) for accommodation that was its home until 1951. Membership rose from a dozen or so in 1932 to a maximum of 65 by 1937. The Club competed regularly in regattas in Ireland and Scotland. RowingRowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
was maintained at a low level throughout the war years; however, after the war the club really started making an impact, and under the vigorous Captaincy of F.J. Boyle (1944/45) it won the Wylie Cup (Irish University Championships) for the first time. Success continued under H.F. Jackson in 1945/46 when the club retained the Wylie Cup, and next year went to Henley Royal Reggatta for the first time. In 1947 a Queen's four won the Metropolitan Challenge Cup (the 'Blue Riband' of Irish Four rowing) and many other trophies. In 1951 the university provided a "temporary wooden structure" on the site of the present Club House, which was officially opened during the Captaincy of John Gorman, when the club went to the Putney Head of the River and came 13th.
1952–1967
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
. In 1958 the Queen's Senior Crew represented Northern Ireland in the Commonwealth Games Regatta instead of attending the National Championships. That crew reached the third round of the Thames Cup at Henley, as did the crew in 1959. Other divisions of the club did well, as the splendid record of the Wylie Cup shows: the only years Queen's failed to win the cup were 1958, 1959, 1961 and 1966. Queen's Junior (now Intermediate) crews won the National Championships in 1958, 1960, and 1962 and the Maiden (Novice) crews in 1953, 1955, 1961, 1963, 1967 and 1969. Membership of the Club was usually about 100 at the beginning of each year, and frequently 4 or 5 'eights' rowed right through the season form October to July. The social side of life was not neglected, and the Boat Club Dinner and Formal Dance were among the highlights of the Queen's year. In 1967 Queen's held a regatta on the Lagan; this became an annual event and eventually transferred to its present venue at Castlewellan
Castlewellan
Castlewellan is a village in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is beside Castlewellan Lake and Slievenaslat mountain, southwest of Downpatrick. It lies between the Mourne Mountains and Slieve Croob. It had a population of 2,392 people in the 2001 Census....
Lake.
1968–1983
Despite the success which Queen's had enjoyed for the previous fifteen years, there were developments in Irish Rowing which left these years rather bereft of trophies for the Club. And yet there were still great efforts made at Queen's, such as in 1976 when the Senior crew reached the final of the Ladies' Challenge PlateLadies' Challenge Plate
The Ladies' Challenge Plate is one of the events at Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. Crews of men's eight-oared boats below the standard of the Grand Challenge Cup can enter, although international standard heavyweight crews are not permitted to row in the...
at Henley. In 1976 also, the "temporary wooden structure" was at last replaced with a proper Club House. J.W.F. Boyd was captain when the Club's new home was opened and three 'eights' made up of past Captains and members rowed a short race to celebrate the occasion. After graduating many members rowed for Lady Victoria Boat Club or the newly founded Belfast Rowing Club (BRC). John Armstrong, Captain 1982-83, won both the Open and Lightweight Championships in 1983.
Recent years
Queens have achieved much success in recent years. In 1996 they won both the Wylie Cup and the Intermidiate 8 Championship. In 2001 a Queens Coxless PairCoxless pair
A Coxless pair is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for two rowers, who propel the boat with sweep oars.The crew consists of a pair of rowers, each having one oar, one on the stroke side and one on the bow side...
of James Cleland and Jonny Hill won the Irish championships and followed it up the next season by representing Ireland in the Home internationals and Northern Ireland in the Commonwealth Rowing Championships. In 2003 Queen's raced in the Head of the Charles
Head of the Charles Regatta
The Head of the Charles Regatta, also known as HOCR or HOTC, is a rowing race held on the penultimate complete weekend of October each year on the Charles River, which separates Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts. The race is named the "Head" of the Charles because it is a head race...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
for the first time, entering the championship and college 8's races. In 2005 Queens, under the captaincy of Chris Wylie, won the Intermidiate 8's championship of Ireland ahead of Neptune R.C
Neptune Rowing Club
Neptune Rowing Club, founded in 1908, is located on the River Liffey at Islandbridge, Dublin. It is one of the largest clubs in Ireland and is one of only two clubs in Dublin which is not affiliated to an institution....
, and also won the University 8's event at Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
International Regatta beating Orca R.C
Orca Rowing Club
Algemene Utrechtse Studenten Roeivereniging ORCA -History:The General Utrecht Student Rowing Club ORCA, The Netherlands, located on the Merwedekanaal at Utrecht , was founded on 24 October 1970 out of the fusion of two older Utrecht student rowing clubs, Charon and Batavier. During a general...
into second place.
In the 2008/2009 season QUBBC appointed its first professional coach who delivered immediate success with Queen's winning the Novice and Intermidiate Championships of Ireland as well as narrowly missing out on the Senior Championship. They also won the Wylie cup for the first time in 13 years and produced a strong showing at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
- equalling the course record to the barrier as they competed in the Temple Challenge Cup
Temple Challenge Cup
The Temple Challenge Cup is one of the eights races at Henley Royal Regatta at Henley-on-Thames on the River Thames in England. It is open to male crews from universities, colleges or schools. Combined entries from two colleges of the same university, or from different schools, are allowed...
. 2010 saw Queen's win the Senior VIII and Senior 4X in the BUCS
Bucs
Bucs or BUCS may refer to:*Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida*Pittsburgh Pirates, a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania*British Universities and Colleges Sport...
Regatta and again fall to a narrow defeat in the Senior Championship of Ireland.
Boat race
2004 saw the first running of the Irish Universities Boat Race. The Race is held on the Lagan between Queen's University Belfast and Trinity College, DublinTrinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
. The race is made to mirror the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race
The Boat Race
The event generally known as "The Boat Race" is a rowing race in England between the Oxford University Boat Club and the Cambridge University Boat Club, rowed between competing eights each spring on the River Thames in London. It takes place generally on the last Saturday of March or the first...
which is held annually on the River Thames
The Championship Course
The stretch of the River Thames between Mortlake and Putney in London, England is a well-established course for rowing races, most famously the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. It is often referred to as The Championship Course...
.
In 2004 the race was held over 3,800 metres, in 2005 it was shortened to 2,700 metres, and in 2006 it was shortened again to 2,000 metres. Dr Robert Gamble of Queen's University Belfast in 2006 remarked, "this year’s race will be over the shorter distance of 1 mile and 550 yards, and is the same distance as the most prestigious rowing event in the calendar, Henley Royal Regatta."
The inaugural race was won by Trinity
Dublin University Boat Club
Dublin University Boat Club is the Rowing club of Trinity College, Dublin. The club operates from its boat house at Memorial Park, Islandbridge, on the South Bank of the River Liffey...
, beating Queens by four lengths. The 2005 race was a thrilling contest, with the Queens crew holding off Trinity in the final stages to win by a length. Trinity took the 2006, 2007 and 2008 races. The 2009 race was won easily by QUBBC, with Queens crossing the finish line as Trinity passed under Governors Bridge. In 2010 Queens senior VIII again were victorious, betting Trinity by an even greater margin than in 2009. The series now stands at 4-3 in favour of Trinity.
Notable members
Ian Kennedy - Olympic games 1976John Armstrong – 1997 World Rowing Championships
World Rowing Championships
The World Rowing Championships is an international rowing regatta organized by FISA . It is a week long event held at the end of the northern hemisphere summer and in non-Olympic years is the highlight of the international rowing calendar.The first event was held in Lucerne, Switzerland in 1962...
, Bronze medal lightweight quad
Richard Archibald – Member of the Irish Lighweight
Lightweight rowing
Lightweight rowing is a special category of rowing where limits are placed on the maximum weight of competitors. The rationale is that larger, taller people have a small but significant physical advantage and tend to dominate the sport...
Coxless 4 in the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games