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Manchester University Boat Club

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Manchester University Boat Club
Image showing the rowing club's blade colours
LocationSale, Greater Manchester
Home waterBridgewater Canal
Founded1889 - Owens College Boat Club
1907-1909 - Manchester University Boat Club
1932-2004 - Manchester University Boat Club [1]
1994-2004 - UMIST Rowing Club
2004 - Manchester University Boat Club [2]
AffiliationsBritish Rowing boat code MANU
BUCS
Websitemubc.org.uk

Manchester University Boat Club (MUBC) is the rowing club of the University of Manchester. While university rowing at Manchester has earlier origins, the present-day club was founded in 1932, and has been based on the Bridgewater Canal since 1963. It is one of the largest sports clubs at the University of Manchester, taking in over 100 members every year.[3]

Facilities[edit]

The MUBC boat house is located 6 miles south of the University of Manchester's main campus on Oxford Road, near Dane Road tram stop. The boat house has three boat storage bays, one dedicated to smaller sculling boats.[4] MUBC rows on an 8-mile stretch of the Bridgewater Canal.[5] Additionally MUBC has an erg room located at the university's Armitage Sports Centre at the Fallowfield Campus.[6]

History[edit]

Rowing at the predecessor institutions of the University of Manchester began in 1862 with a coxed four race between Owens College and the Physical Laboratory. In 1889 the Owens College Boat Club was established, which was reconstituted as a member of the new Victoria University of Manchester Athletic Union in 1907.[7] This club was short-lived and closed in 1909.

In 1932 the University of Leeds challenged the University of Manchester Athletic Union (AU) to a boat race. The AU declined, as Manchester did not have a boat club, however a number of students who had rowed before at other universities or at school soon established a club to race against Leeds. The re-established MUBC was based at Agecroft Rowing Club.[8] Manchester University Women's Boat Club was established in 1960, and merged into MUBC when the university athletic unions were merged in the early 1980s. In 1963 MUBC moved to its present boat house at Dane Road in Sale.[9] The opening of the new boat house was celebrated with a scratch IVs event.[10] Manchester University was represented at Henley Royal Regatta for the first time in 1966, entering the Thames Challenge Cup, where BBC commentator Harry Carpenter announced: “…and here comes this exciting new crew from… Manchester United”.[11]

In 1994 UMIST was granted a royal charter as an independent university and began rowing separately.[12] This lasted for a decade until 'Project Unity' merged UMIST and the Victoria University into the present-day University of Manchester. The colours of purple and yellow - and so the new rowing blades - were adopted that year.[13] Prior to 2004 MUBC blades were in the maroon and white colours adopted by the Victoria University of Manchester Athletic Union in 1905, and UMIST blades were in black and white.[14]

Two Cities Boat Race[edit]

The Two Cities Boat Race, described by the Manchester Evening News as the "real university boat race"[15] has been held between MUBC and the Salford University Boat Club since 1972. This was initially part of the Agecroft Regatta and consisted of one men's eight.[16] MUBC had always competed at a higher level than Salford, however the race was initiated by Roger Vaughn (Captain of Agecroft Rowing Club) in recognition of Salford's improvement.[17] The vast majority of Two Cities victories have gone to the University of Manchester, with Salford's first win in 2000.[18] The race is now a multi-race regatta over either 650m or 500m, held at Salford Quays and finishing under the Lowry Bridge.[19] Recent years have seen the involvement of alumni from both boat clubs, often taking the form of an alumni VIII.

The event became a high-profile event for both universities in the 2010s, when it was combined with other watersports such as Dragon Boat racing to make it the "biggest event in the sporting calendar", according to the University of Manchester.[20]

Results Since 2000[edit]

Year SM VIII SW VIII NM VIII NW VIII SM IV SW IV NM IV NW IV SM 1x SW 1x Alumni VIII Overall
2023 Manchester Win
2022 Manchester Win[21]
2019 Manchester Salford Manchester Manchester Manchester Salford Manchester Manchester Win[22]
2018 Manchester Manchester Salford Manchester Salford Salford Salford Salford Win [23]
2015 Manchester Manchester Manchester Manchester Manchester Manchester Manchester Manchester Win[24]
2013 Salford Win [25]
2012 Manchester Win[26]
2011 Manchester Manchester Manchester Manchester Manchester Salford Salford Manchester Win[27]
2010 Manchester Win
2009 Manchester Win[28]
2008 Manchester Win[29]
2007 Manchester Win[30]
2006 Manchester Win[31]
2005 Manchester Win
2004 Manchester Win
2003 Manchester Win
2002 Manchester Win
2001 Manchester Win
2000 Salford Win [32]

Nemesis Boat Club[edit]

Nemesis Boat Club was founded in 2005 as the alumni club for MUBC. In 2008 it was affiliated with British Rowing, allowing members to race at Henley Royal Regatta.[33] Since 2005 Nemesis has challenged MUBC for the Bridgewater Cup, which takes place on the day of the Two Cities Boat Race.

From 1847 to 1920 another boat club of the same name had a close association with the predecessors to MUBC. This Nemesis Boat Club was based on New Bailey Street in Manchester and its association with university rowing in the city goes back to the first inter-faculty boat races at Owens College in the 1860s where crews would boat from Nemesis.[34] From 1894 to 1909 Owens College Boat Club and the early Manchester University Boat Club operated from the Nemesis boathouse. Nemesis folded in 1920, during the 1909-1932 break in rowing at the University of Manchester.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Men's Boat Club". Description of 'Men's Boat Club, 1932-1973. University of Manchester, Athletic Union Archive. University of Manchester Library. GB 133 AUA/5/4' on the Archives Hub website. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  2. ^ "A Brief History of UMIST RC". Mubc.org.uk. 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  3. ^ "About Us". Mubc.org.uk. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  4. ^ "The Boathouse". Mubc.org.uk. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Water Training". Mubc.org.uk. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Ergo Room and Fitness Suites". Mubc.org.uk. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Pre-War Years". Mubc.org.uk. 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Inter War Rowing at Manchester". Mubc.org.uk. 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Dane Road Boat House". Archives Hub. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Move to the Bridgewater Canal". Mubc.org.uk. 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  11. ^ "The First Henley Crew". Mubc.org.uk. 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  12. ^ "A Brief History of UMIST RC". Mubc.org.uk. 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  13. ^ Abendstern, M. (2007). ‘Project Unity,’ in Pullan, B. (ed.) A Portrait of the University of Manchester. London. Third Millennium Publishing. p.71.
  14. ^ "Administrative/Biographical History". Archives Hub. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  15. ^ "Two cities boat race to rock Salford". Manchester Evening News. 30 June 2005. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Beginnings of the "Two Cities Boat Race"". Mubc.org.uk. 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  17. ^ "The Two Cities Boat Race". University of Salford Boat Club. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  18. ^ "41st Annual Two Cities Boat Race". Shock Radio. 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  19. ^ "Manchester wins Two Cities Boat Race - but only just!". University of Manchester. 15 May 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  20. ^ "Dragon Boats 2010: Biggest event in the sporting calendar". University of Manchester. 19 March 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  21. ^ "Two Cities Boat Race 2022". Mubc.org.uk. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  22. ^ "Two Cities Boat Race 2019". Mubc.org.uk. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  23. ^ "Two Cities Boat Race 2018". Mubc.org.uk. 21 April 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  24. ^ "Two Cities Boat Race 2015". Mubc.org.uk. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  25. ^ "41st Annual Two Cities Boat Race". Shock Radio. 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  26. ^ "Boat Race bragging rights remain with Manchester". Mubc.org.uk. 24 May 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  27. ^ "Nail-biting finish for Two Cities Boat Race". British Rowing. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  28. ^ https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/fashion-news/compete-in-the-two-cities-boat-race-991147
  29. ^ "Manchester just 'oarsome' in Two Cities Boat Race". University of Manchester. 15 May 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  30. ^ "Manchester wins Two Cities Boat Race - but only just!". University of Manchester. 13 May 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  31. ^ "Manchester wins Two Cities Boat Race - but only just!". University of Manchester. 15 May 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  32. ^ "41st Annual Two Cities Boat Race". Shock Radio. 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  33. ^ "Nemesis Boat Club History". Nemesis Boat Club. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  34. ^ "Pre-War Years". Mubc.org.uk. 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
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