DUBC Win BUCS Regatta for 10th Year Running

After an oarsome weekend of racing at BUCS Regatta, DUBC have been crowned ‘the winner of the games’ for the tenth year in a row! 

Following three glorious and victorious days on the water Durham’s decade of dominance was finally completed as they beat off Imperial and stormed to the top of the leader board with 12 Gold medals.

Over 70 universities competed in the 2013 event at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham.

But despite this year’s record-breaking entry and a huge increase in the number of women’s crews entered, Durham still came out on top for the tenth year running, presented with the VL, or ‘Victor Ludorum’ prize, awarded to the team who won the highest number of points overall.

It wasn’t an easy start. On Saturday, nerves were at an all-time high and the pressure was certainly on to complete the winning decade.

With a 5am weigh-in, the lightweights had an early morning on Saturday, but this didn’t stop them winnings lots of medals.

After a tense start, the beginner men’s 4 brought in the first Gold, and from then on the Golds just kept coming, with Durham in second place at the end of Day One.

The sun was out for the bank holiday weekend

And gold seemed to be the theme of the weekend, with medals for the champ men’s pair and 4, the women’s champ 4 and the women’s fresher 8, to name just a few.

Women’s Fresher VIII A Final

Special mention must also go to Angus Groom and Barney Stentiford, who won three Golds and dominated the skulling events.

The sun was out once again for the final day, and DUBC dominated the competition, finishing the regatta with a grand total of 12 Golds, two more than Imperial Boat Club, who were hot on their tail throughout.

Durham came out top of the leader board

With 1114 points winning them the Victor Ludorum, DUBC were crowned BUCS champions, and spectators watched as the whole club jumped into the lake in celebration.

Joanna Leyden, member of the DUBC winning fresher 8, told The Tab, “It was a really amazing weekend and I’m so proud to be part of DUBC.

“Retaining our title as the best women’s fresher 8 has got to be a particular highlight – the best but most painful 2K of my life!

“The men’s freshers did amazingly too, winning gold in the 4+ and silver in the 8+.

“The atmosphere there was amazing as we cheered so many of our rowers over the finish line in medal positions. And when we found out we had won the VL we all jumped in the lake!

“An amazing weekend and we look forward to retaining our title next year (and the celebrations tonight!)”

DUBC tweeted about their success

And Northern Rowing have even changed the colour of their logo for the month in honour of DUBC’s achievement:

But DUBC weren’t the only ones from Durham enjoying the final sunny day of the regatta – both Hatfield and Castle strongly contributed to the Palatinate power.

Beating DUBC in the time trials, Hatfield put in an spectacularly strong effort, coming eighth in the women’s IM4. UCBC women’s squad finished 23^rd out of 48 in the beginner 8s, beating 25 university crews in the process!