City’s rowers put in an oarsome display
ROWING
NEWCASTLE University Boat Club cruised to 14 podium finishes in the biggest university event of the winter rowing calendar.
Competing at the BUCS Fours and Eights Head on the River Tyne, NUBC scooped four gold, seven silver and three bronze medals.
The club retained its men’s Victor Ludorum team title and improved on its performance in 2017, when Newcastle rowers won 10 podium places.
Around 2,000 oarsmen and women took part in the event, making up around 500 racing crews.
Racing was split into three levels with beginners, intermediates and championship crews across fours and eights boats in lightweight and open weight categories.
This was the third time the home clubs (Tyne ARC, Tyne United RC and Newcastle University BC) have hosted the students’ biggest winter rowing event.
NUBC not only competed well in the event itself but also provided two members to sit on the organis- ing committee and a large number of volunteers to help run the event.
Colin Blackburn, Director of Sport at Newcastle University, said: “The Tyne consortia was delighted to host two days of exciting head racing.
“The novice crews, competing on the Saturday, coped well with the wind and the tide conditions.
“Sunday was the turn of the intermediate and senior rowers who provided outstanding performances.
“The consortia has bid to host the event for a further three years (2019-2021) with the decision expected in early April.”
Hayden Arrowsmith, event manager at BUCS, added: “The event went very well.
“Much of the success was down to our event volunteers and the support of the three host rowing clubs on the River Tyne.
“Rowing is a major sport in the higher education sector with the event providing competition for beginners (those who have just learnt to row within the last six months at university) through to top-level oarsmen.”