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University College Boat Club (Oxford)
Encyclopedia
University College Boat Club (commonly abbreviated to UCBC) is the rowing club for all members of University College, Oxford
University College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
("Univ"). UCBC has had a recent run of successes, notably in the Women's divisions with the Women's 1st VIII winning Blades in Torpids
Torpids
Torpids is one of two series of bumping races held yearly at Oxford University, the other being Eights. Over 130 men's and women's crews race for their colleges in six men's divisions and five women's; almost 1200 participants in total...
2008 and the 2nd VIII winning Blades in both Torpids and Summer Eights 2008. Torpids 2009 also proved successful with the men's 1st VIII winning blades.
History
The idea of inter collegiate racing was pioneered by Brasenose College Boat Club and Jesus College Boat ClubJesus College Boat Club (Oxford)
Jesus College Boat Club is a rowing club for members of Jesus College, Oxford, one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford...
in 1815. In 1827, it was decided to form a University College eight. The origins of UCBC can be attributed to one student, William Roper, who supervised the raising of £100 to build a boat and select a crew. Whilst the crew did not compete in 1829 or 1832-8 it has done so almost continuously until the present day, first going Head of the River in 1841. By the mid 1850s the Boat Club was enjoying a centrality to college life that it has not lost. The mid nineteenth century was a period of great success for UCBC being Head of the River
Head of the River
A Head of the River race is a rowing race, held as a procession race against the clock, with the winning crew receiving the title of "Head of the River"...
in 1869–71, 1874–5 and 1877–8. One undergraduate Charles Cree recorded the celebrations in 1871:
"Univ. Head in the Eights. Univ, though Balliol
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
came near them were never in danger…The Eight supped with Snell and the rest of us joined them after supper, and had a glorious evening. Singing and shouting as well as our voices would let us — Everything went off well no one being drunk."
Univ won the headship in 1914, the college now being in possession of an original commemorative blade from that time. Sadly, many of that crew did not live to see the end of the Great War.
Univ was most recently Head of the River in 1990/1991.
The Boathouse
UCBC's boathouseBoathouse
A boathouse is a building especially designed for the storage of boats, normally smaller craft for sports or leisure use. These are typically located on open water, such as on a river. Often the boats stored are rowing boats...
has become an iconic and instantly recognisable architectural statement in and around Oxford. The original 19th century boathouse, designed by John Oldrid Scott
John Oldrid Scott
John Oldrid Scott was an English architect.He was the son of Sir George Gilbert Scott and Caroline née Oldrid. His brother George Gilbert Scott Junior and nephew Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, were also prominent architects. He married Mary Ann Stevens in 1868, eldest daughter of the Reverend Thomas...
, succumbed to arson in 1999. After eight years, a new boathouse was finished, designed by Belsize Architects. The Boathouse has been awarded a Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
(RIBA) prize. The £2.7million structure has enjoyed a very favourable reception in the architectural world. Yuli Toh's article describes the structure as not just a boathouse, but "a grandstand of the first order" arguing that it represents a new age in rowing.
Saturday of Eights’ Week 2007 saw the opening of the new boathouse by Colin Moynihan
Colin Moynihan
Colin Berkeley Moynihan, 4th Baron Moynihan PC is a former Olympic coxswain who became a businessman, politician and sports administrator.-Early life:...
(1974) who coxed the College and the University, won a silver medal at the Moscow Olympics in 1980, gained a boxing Blue, later became Minister of Sport, and is now Chairman of the British Olympic Association. The ceremony also marked the dedication of the Coleman Viewing Terrace by Jimmy Coleman (1963) and Jamie Coleman (1994); it is named for their generous gift.
Equipment
UCBC benefits from having one of the most modern fleets on the Isis.
| Class | Make | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8+ | Empacher Empacher Empacher is a manufacturer of boats, especially for the sport of rowing. Originally building sailing yachts, it was founded by Willy Empacher in 1923 in Königsberg, East Prussia. In 1952 they started producing racing rowing shells, an enterprise that has become their main business today... (2006) |
Lord and Lady Butler Robin Butler, Baron Butler of Brockwell Frederick Edward Robin Butler, Baron Butler of Brockwell, is a retired British civil servant, now sitting in the House of Lords as a Life Peer.-Life:Butler was born in Lytham St Annes on on 3 January, 1938... |
Named after then Master of the College, and his wife. |
| 8+ | Empacher (2008) | Norman Dix | Named after former Boatman. Name had previously been used for a wooden boat. |
| 8+ | Janousek Janousek Janousek Racing Boats Ltd is a British-based manufacturer of rowing boats. The boats are made of a honeycomb-sandwich laminate and Janousek was one of the first rowing boat makers in the world to offer this method of rowing boat construction... (2000) |
Michael Collins | Named after UCBC Senior Member & Mathematics Fellow. |
| 8+ | Janousek (2000) | Phoenix | ...from the flames (purchased after boathouse fire). |
| 4+ | Janousek (2002) | George Cawkwell II | Named after Emeritus Fellow. |
| 2-/2x (85 kg) | Janousek (2002) | The Two Bills | Named after then Head Porter and Chaplain. |
| 1x (85 kg) | Janousek (2002) | Bob | |
| 1x (65 kg) | Janousek (2002) | David | Named after David Sherriff, benefactor and supporter of UCBC. |
| 1x (70 kg) | Radley Radley College Radley College , founded in 1847, is a British independent school for boys on the edge of the English village of Radley, near to the market town of Abingdon in Oxfordshire, and has become a well-established boarding school... |
Norman | |
| 1x (80 kg) | Radley | Edward |
The women's side of the Boat Club uses the following shells:
| Class | Make | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8+ | Empacher (2008) | Minnie Coleman | Named after wife of Old Member and benefactor, Jimmy Coleman. |
| 8+ | Janousek (2007) | Margaret Chamberlain | |
| 8+ | Janousek | Marion Screaton II | |
| 8+ | Janousek | Claire Sherriff II | Named after Claire Sherriff, benefactor and supporter of UCBC. |
| 4+ | Janousek (2002) | Marjorie Collins | Named after wife of UCBC Senior Member & Mathematics Fellow. |
The Erg Room is equipped with 8 Model D Concept2
Concept2
Concept2 is a manufacturer of rowing equipment based in Vermont, USA. It is best known for its air resistance indoor rowing machines , which are considered the standard training and testing machines for competition rowers and can be found in most gyms...
Ergs
Indoor rower
An indoor rower, or rowing machine, is a machine used to simulate the action of watercraft rowing for the purpose of exercise or training for rowing. Indoor rowing has become established as a sport in its own right...
and stretching/exercise mats, along with changing rooms for crews.
Men
Wednesday: Bumped Wolfson 1st VIII and Lincoln 1st VII*
Thursday: Bumped Jesus 1st VIII
Friday: Bumped Brasenose 1st VIII
Saturday: Bumped Queen's 1st VIII, and so were awarded blades
Finished 5th in Div 2, 17th on the river
- Bumped Wolfson who then went on to bump Lincoln meaning leapfrogged both crews.
Men's 2nd VIII: started 3rd in Div 4, 39th on the river
Wednesday: Rowed Over
Thursday: Rowed Over
Friday: Bumped by Trinity 2nd VIII
Saturday: Bumped by Hertford 2nd VIII
Finished 5th in Div 4, 41st on the river
Men's 3rd VIII: failed to qualify for Div 6
Men's Bumps Charts 2009
Women
Women's 1st VIII: started 4th in Div 2, 16th on the riverWednesday: Bumped by Worcester 1st VIII
Thursday: Bumped by Keble 1st VIII and St. Johns 1st VIII
Friday: Bumped by Wolfson 1st VIII
Saturday: Rowed Over
Finished 8th in Div 2, 20th on the river
Women's 2nd VIII: started 6th in Div 4, 42nd on the river
Wednesday: Bumped by Balliol 3rd VIII and Exeter 2nd VIII
Thursday: Rowed Over
Friday: Bumped by Trinity 2nd VIII
Saturday: Bumped St. Anne's 2nd VIII
Finished 8th in Div 4, 44th on the river
Wommen's Bumps Charts 2009
Men
Men's 1st VIII: started 2nd in Div 2, 14th on the riverWednesday: Bumped by Balliol 1st VIII, Brasenose 1st VIII, Jesus 1st VIII, Lincoln 1st VIII, Hertford 1st VIII, Keble 1st VIII, St Anne's 1st VIII, Magdalen 2nd VIII, S,E.H. 1st VIII, Merton 1st VIII and Wolfson 1st VIII.*
Thursday: Bumped Magdalen 2nd VIII
Friday: Bumped Keble 1st VIII
Saturday: Bumped Merton 1st VIII
Finished 10th in Div 2, 22nd on the river
- Unfortunate crash in the gut trying to evade Balliol put the boat out of action.
Wednesday: Rowed Over
Thursday: Bumped by Mansfield 1st VIII and New College 2nd VIII
Friday: Bumped by Somerville 1st VIII
Saturday: Bumped by Jesus 2nd VIII
Finished 3rd in Div 4, 39th on the river
Women
Women's 1st VIII: started 9th in Div 2, 21st on the riverWednesday: Bumped Keble 1st VIII
Thursday: Bumped Wolfson 1st VIII
Friday: Bumped St Hugh's 1st VIII
Saturday: Bumped Worcester 1st VIII, and so were awarded blades
Finished 5th in Div 2, 17th on the river
Women's 2nd VIII: started 12th in Div 4, 48th on the river
Wednesday: Bumped Linacre 2nd VIII
Thursday: Bumped St Peter's 1st VIII
Friday: Bumped St Catherines's 2nd VIII
Saturday: Bumped Exeter 2nd VIII, and so were awarded blades
Finished 6th in Div 4, 42nd on the river
Men
Men's 1st VIII: started 5th in Div 1, 5th on the riverWednesday: Bumped by Christ Church 1st VIII
Thursday: Rowed Over
Friday: Rowed Over
Saturday: Rowed Over
Finished 6th in Div 1, 6th on the river
Men's 2nd VIII: started 10th in Div 3, 34th on the river
Wednesday: Bumped by Somerville 1st VIII
Thursday: Rowed Over
Friday: Bumped by Oriel 2nd VIII
Saturday: Bumped St Hugh's 1st VIII
Finished 11th in Div 3, 35th on the river
Men's 3rd VIII: started 5th in Div 5, 65th on the river
Wednesday: Bumped Wadham 3rd VIII
Thursday: Rowed Over
Friday: Bumped by Wadham 3rd VIII
Saturday: Bumped Wadham 3rd VIII
Finished 4th in Div 3, 64th on the river
Women
Women's 1st VIII: started 6th in Div 2, 18th on the riverWednesday: Rowed Over
Thursday: Bumped Keble 1st VIII
Friday: Bumped Keble 1st VIII
Saturday: Rowed Over
Finished 4th in Div 2, 16th on the river
Women's 2nd VIII: started 7th in Div 5, 55th on the river
Wednesday: Bumped St John's 3rd VIII
Thursday: Bumped Osler-Green 2nd VIII
Friday: Bumped Queen's 2nd VIII
Saturday: Bumped New 2nd VIII, and so were awarded blades
Finished 3rd in Div 5, 51st on the river
Notable alumni of UCBC
- Colin MoynihanColin MoynihanColin Berkeley Moynihan, 4th Baron Moynihan PC is a former Olympic coxswain who became a businessman, politician and sports administrator.-Early life:...
, Olympic Silver Medallist Moscow 1980 Olympics and Chairman of the British Olympic Committee. - Acer NethercottAcer NethercottAcer Gary Nethercott is a British coxwain, Olympic silver medallist and double Boat Race winner.-Education:...
, Olympic Silver Medallist, Cox GB 8+, Beijing 2008 Olympics. - Mark EvansMark Evans (rower)Mark Evans is a Canadian rower.Evans was a member of the Canadian men's eights team that won the gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, USA. His twin brother Michael was on the same winning team.-References:*...
, Olympic Gold Medallist, Canadian 8+, Los Angeles 1984 Olympics. - Tom Solesbury, GB pair, Beijing 2008 Olympics.
- Stephen HawkingStephen HawkingStephen William Hawking, CH, CBE, FRS, FRSA is an English theoretical physicist and cosmologist, whose scientific books and public appearances have made him an academic celebrity...
, physicist. Coxed whilst studying at Univ, prior to his debilitating illness.