Old blades make a splash: University Boat Club celebrates 40 years
Posted on 23 April 2004
Former Boat Club members from across the years will return to York to relive their university rowing days. An Anniversary Ball will take place at York Racecourse on Saturday 24 April, followed by an open day on Sunday 25 April at the boathouse. Old Blades - former Boat Club members - will be invited to take part in races on the river.
The Boat Club has developed beyond recognition since its inception in October 1963 when a student set up the club in the first month of the new University's life. At the time, the club sported six members. They had no equipment of their own - they borrowed boats and oars from York City Rowing Club - and only one member of the team had any previous competitive rowing experience.
Nevertheless in 1965, now equipped with some second-hand oars, but still borrowing boats from the City Rowing Club, the York triumphed in the first re-enactment of that age-old battle - the Wars of the Roses - when they defeated Lancaster's rowing team.
These days things have moved on and the Boat Club now owns 13 boats - some made of carbon fibre - and its own coaching launch. One boat, The Grapevine, was donated by former students of the University.
The Club has both men's and women's senior and novice squads, and is hoping to defeat Lancaster again in the annual Roses battle this year.
"The anniversary celebrations will give Boat Club members, past and present, an opportunity to meet up and reminisce about former times," said current Boat Club President Hester Goodsall. "We have over 100 people attending the ball at the weekend, and the events on the river next weekend will bring out everyone's competitive spirit."
Notes to editors:
- The Boat Club currently has 70 members.
- Recent successes by the boat club include Andy Jason and Hester Goodsall both setting a new course record for singles sculls in the South Yorkshire Head; being overall winner in the York Small Boats Elite Quad, and the Novice 8 winning in the York Summer Regatta.
- Squads from the Boat Club regularly compete at the BUSA Regatta, Peterborough Regatta, Marlow Regatta and the York Summer Regatta. During the winter season, they participate in head races, namely Head of the River which takes place on the river Thames.
- More information about the University Boat Club including race can be found at www.uybc.net