View source for The Boat Race of the North

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{|class="infobox" style="width: 26em;"
|-
|colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 125%; background:lavender;"|'''The Boat Race of the North'''
|-
|colspan="2" style="width:100%; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center;"| [[File:Boat_Race_of_the_North_logo.png|150px]]
|-
|colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 100%; background:lavender;"|'''Contested by'''
|-
|style="width:50%; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center;"|[[File:Durham University Boat Club Blade.svg|150px]]
|style="width:50%; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center;"|[[File:Newcastle University Boat Club Blade.svg|150px]]
|-
|style="text-align:center;"| [[Durham University Boat Club|DUBC]]
|style="text-align:center;"| [[Newcastle University Boat Club|NUBC]]
|-
|'''First boat race'''
|18 May 1997
|-
|'''Current champion'''
|Newcastle (2022)
|-
|'''Course'''
|[[Redheugh Bridge]] to [[Gateshead Millennium Bridge]]<br>
[[River Tyne]], [[Newcastle-upon-Tyne|Newcastle]]{{efn-lr|The 2018 race was held using the [[Durham Regatta]] long course on the Wear, from the Racecourse to Prebends Bridge.}}
|-
|'''Course length'''
|{{convert|1500|m}}
|-
|'''Sponsor'''
|[[Northumbrian Water]] (− 2010)<br />NE1 (2015 –)<br />[[Siemens]] (2017 –)
|-
|colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 100%; background:lavender;"|'''Number of wins'''{{efn-lr|Wins are calculated by the winner of the majority of races each year, which has varied from two to six. If the numbers are equal, a draw is declared}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"| [[Durham University Boat Club|Durham]]
|style="text-align:center;"| [[Newcastle University Boat Club|Newcastle]]
|-
|style="text-align:center;"| 8
|style="text-align:center;"| 8<br />
|-
|colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 100%;"|4 draws
|-
|colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 100%; background:lavender;"|'''Official website'''
|-
|colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | {{url|http://dubc.co.uk/}}<br />{{url|http://newcastlerowing.com/}}
|}

[[File:Tyne Bridge - Newcastle Upon Tyne - England - 2004-08-14.jpg|thumb|right|View along the course from its end point]]

'''The Boat Race of the North''' is an annual [[rowing (sport)|rowing]] event between the [[boat club]]s of [[Durham University Boat Club|Durham]] and [[Newcastle University Boat Club|Newcastle]] universities in [[England]]. The event is usually staged on the [[River Tyne]] in [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]], although the 2018 race was held on the [[River Wear]] in [[Durham, England|Durham]].

The inaugural event took place on 18 May 1997. Durham won eight of the first twelve competitions, before a hiatus between 2011 and 2014. Races recommenced in 2015, and Newcastle has won six of the seven events since then.

The event was sponsored for a number of years until 2010 by [[Northumbrian Water]], and hence was known as the '''Northumbrian Water University Boat Race''' for this period.<ref>{{cite web |title=News Issue 68 |url=https://www.nerowing.com/ne%20rowing%20news%2068%20jun%201998.pdf |website=North East Rowing |access-date=11 May 2024 |date=June 1998}}</ref> Since 2015 the race had been sponsored by the NE1 business development company, with [[Siemens]] also sponsoring from 2017, when the race became the '''Siemens Boat Race of the North'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://community.dur.ac.uk/blogs/taking-part-in-the-boat-race-of-the-north/|title=Taking part in the Boat Race of the North|author=Edward Gleadow|accessdate=5 May 2016|publisher=Durham University}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Siemens Boat Race of the North |url=http://newcastlerowing.com/the-siemens-boat-race-of-the-north/ |website=NUBC |accessdate=30 June 2018}}</ref>

== Races ==

The main rowing event consists of six races (from 2016), with trophies for the first and novice eights commemorating 19th century Tyne rowers<ref name="BBC2010">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/tyne/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8643000/8643809.stm |title=University boat race honours Tyne rowing heroes |publisher=BBC News |date=26 April 2010 |accessdate=29 April 2010}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! 
! Race
! Trophy
|-
| 1
| Men's senior eights
| The [[Harry Clasper|Clasper]] Trophy
|-
| 2
| Women's senior eights
| The [[Robert Chambers (oarsman)|Chambers]] Trophy
|-
| 3
| Men's novice eights
| The [[James Renforth|Renforth]] Trophy
|-
| 4
| Women's novice eights
| The Taylor Trophy
|-
| 5
| Men's second eights
| -
|-
| 6
| Women's second eights
| -
|}

Local entertainment is often provided, and other spectacles such as a parade of tall ships, a University Sailing Contest and a University Canoe Water Polo contest have enlivened the atmosphere prior to the main race.

Presentations are made after the races have finished in [[Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art|Baltic Square]] on the [[Gateshead]] side of the river.

The 2006 race and the crews' build up to the race was filmed for an [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] television show about rowing in the [[North East England|North East]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/11021540|title=The Boat Race of the North|accessdate=11 March 2016|website=Vimeo}}</ref>

A race for junior rowers takes place before the main university races over the same course. It is usually contested between [[Tyne Amateur Rowing Club]] representing Newcastle and a composite of Durham Schools (usually [[Durham School (Durham, England)|Durham School]] and [[St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham|St Leonard's]]) representing Durham. The event does not count towards the overall trophy.

== Recent years ==
[[File:Newcastle baltic frontseite.jpg|thumb|[[Gateshead]]'s [[Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art|Baltic Square]], used for award presentations.]]

=== 2009 event ===
The 2009 boat race took place on Saturday 9 May; this was the 13th event, although only ten of the twelve prior competitions had taken place, owing to bad weather. River-based entertainment started at 3:30pm, with the start of racing at 4:40pm.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/press.release/item/annual-university-boat-race-challenge-is-issued/ |title=Annual University Boat Race challenge is issued |publisher=Newcastle University |date=27 April 2009 |accessdate=28 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306015435/http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/press.release/item/annual-university-boat-race-challenge-is-issued/ |archivedate=6 March 2012 }}</ref> Newcastle took the overall title for the first time.

=== 2010 event ===
In 2010 the event was held on Sunday 9 May, beginning at 1:00pm, following a race between schoolchildren (won by the Durham crew).<ref name="BBC2010"/> It was moved from the Saturday to get better spectator numbers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/press.release/item/local-men-lead-universities-into-oarsome-battle |title=Local men lead Universities into oarsome battle |publisher=Newcastle University |date=26 April 2010 |accessdate=29 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509150236/http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/press.release/item/local-men-lead-universities-into-oarsome-battle |archivedate=May 9, 2010 }}</ref> The Boat Race was a draw, with Newcastle taking both the Freshmen's and Freshwomen's races and Durham both Senior races.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nwl.co.uk/media-centre/617_1876.aspx |title=Honours even in 14th University Boat Race |author=Melanie Reed|publisher=Newcastle University|website=Northumbrian Water|date=9 May 2010 |accessdate=11 March 2016}}</ref>

=== 2011 & 2012 events ===
The 2011 boat race was scheduled to take place on Saturday 7 May 2011 at 5pm. There had been tensions between the teams the previous year, and the weekend before, all four Newcastle boats (Men's senior eights & Freshmen and Women's senior eights & Freshwomen) had beaten their Durham counterparts in finals at the BUCS ([[British Universities and Colleges Sport]]) Regatta held at [[Nottingham]].  Durham declined to challenge Newcastle for the Boat Race trophies and conceded all races for this year without a contest. Newcastle therefore retained the overall trophy. In 2012, Durham again declined to challenge, leading to the event being abandoned until revived in 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thetab.com/uk/newcastle/2015/04/25/boating-hell-newcastle-vs-durham-boat-race-back-11054|work=[[The Tab]]|title=Aboat time! Newcastle vs Durham boat race is back|author=Isabella Eckert}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://thecourieronline.co.uk/the-boat-race-of-the-north-returns/|title=The Boat Race of the North returns|date=4 May 2015|website=The Courier Online}}</ref>

=== 2015 event ===
In 2015, the race was held on Saturday 9 May.  Durham won both Women's and Men's Beginner races by 1 1/4 lengths and a canvas respectively.  Newcastle Senior Women fought back with a win by 2 lengths, setting up a decider between the Senior Men.  Newcastle won the Senior Men's race by 3 lengths.  Newcastle retained the trophy.

===2016 event===
The 2016 race took place on 7 May 2016. In addition to the four main races, there was also a race between the men's and women's 2nd eights as well as race between local rivals Tyne Rowing Club and Tyne United Rowing Club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/boat-race-north-set-row-11216695|title=The Boat Race of the North is set to row down the River Tyne in May|date=20 April 2016|author=Sarah Jeffery|website=ChronicleLive}}</ref>

Newcastle's Women won their 1st and 2nd eight races by 2 ¾ and 4 lengths respectively and Newcastle's Men won their 1st and 2nd eight races by 2 ¼ and 2 ¾ lengths respectively.   Durham won both the Women's and Men's beginner races by 2 ¾ lengths and ¼ lengths respectively. Therefore,  Newcastle won overall.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newcastlerowing.com/2016/05/newcastle-crowned-champions-of-the-north-at-boat-race-2016/|title=Newcastle crowned Champions of the North at Boat Race 2016|website= Newcastle University Boat Club|accessdate=2 August 2016|author=Kelsey Stoddart}}</ref>

In the club competition, Tyne Rowing Club beat Tyne United Rowing Club.

=== 2018 event ===

[[File:Durham regatta Univ College Durham v's Newcastle Uni.jpg|thumb|right|Rowing at Durham Regatta, which hosted the 2018 Boat Race of the North]]

The 2018 race was scheduled for 17 March 2018 but [[2018 Great Britain and Ireland cold wave|bad weather]] forced the event to be postponed. A reduced Boat Race, featuring only the senior men's and women's teams, took place alongside the [[Durham Regatta]] on 9 June, meaning that the race took place on the River Wear for the first time in its history. Newcastle won both races to retain the overall trophy, the men's team by three feet and the women's team by 1 ¾ lengths.<ref>{{cite news |last1=The Courier |title=Durham beaten on home waters by Blue Stars |url=http://thecourieronline.co.uk/durham-beaten-on-home-waters-by-blue-stars/ |accessdate=30 June 2018 |date=24 June 2018}}</ref>

=== 2019 event ===
The 2019 event took place on the same day as the [[Heineken Cup]] final for European club rugby at [[St James' Park]], with the "fanzone" for the rugby being located at the quayside. Large screens broadcast both the rising and the rugby to the crowds.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/boat-race-north-adds-newcastles-16209484|work=ChronicleLive|date=11 May 2019|author=Barbara Hodgson|title=Boat Race of the North adds to Newcastle's weekend of sporting action for rowing and rugby fans}}</ref> Newcastle won all six races over a 1500m course from Redheugh Bridge to the Millennium Bridge. Beginner races were replaced by 3rd eights.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thecourieronline.co.uk/boat-race-victory-for-newcastle-over-north-east-neighbours-durham/|work=The Courier|author=Maggie Elstob|date=20 May 2019|title=Boat Race victory for Newcastle over North East Neighbours Durham}}</ref>

=== 2021 event ===
The race was not held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed in 2021. Newcastle again
won all six races.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/joy-siemens-boat-race-north-20750119|title=Joy as Siemens Boat Race of the North returns to River Tyne - with victory for Newcastle University|author=Sonia Sharma| date=5 June 2021|work=ChronicleLive}}</ref>

=== 2022 event ===
The 2022 races took place on 9 May 2022. Durham won the men's senior 8 race for the first time since the race was revived in 2015, and also took the women's 2nd 8 title, but the remaining four races were won by Newcastle, who took overall victory and retained the trophy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newcastleworld.com/sport/durham-turn-heads-at-siemens-boat-race-of-the-north-but-newcastle-retain-title-in-style-3685908|title=Durham turn heads at Siemens’ Boat Race of the North but Newcastle retain title in style|author=Toby Bryant| date=9 May 2022|work=NewcastleWorld}}</ref>

=== 2023 event ===
The Boat Race of the North in 2023 was held on Newcastle & Gateshead Quayside from 2pm on Saturday 6 May after the [[coronation of King Charles III]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Navigation Notice No 5 of 2023 - Rowing Event |url=https://www.portoftyne.co.uk/marine-information/navigational-information/notices-to-mariners/navigation-notice-no-5-of-2023-rowing |website=Port of Tyne |access-date=1 May 2023}}</ref> Newcastle University were once again victorious, retaining the title by winning 5 of the 6 races.<ref>{{cite news|title=Durham University defeated by Newcastle University for eighth year in a row in Boat Race of the North|date=24 May 2023|work=Palatinate|author=Becks Fleet}}</ref>

== Results ==
{| class=wikitable
|-
! Year
! Race Number
! Senior 8 - Men
! Senior 8 - Women
! 2nd 8 - Men
! 2nd 8 - Women
! 3rd 8 - Men{{efn|name=beginner|Beginner 8 for races until 2017}}
! 3rd 8 - Women{{efn|name=beginner}}
! Overall
|-
!2023
|22
| style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
| style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
| style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
| style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
| style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
| style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
|style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle Win
|-
!2022
|21
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
|style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
|style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
|style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
|style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
|style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle Win
|-
!2021
|20
| style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
| style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
| style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
| style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
| style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
| style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
|style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle Win
|-
! 2020{{efn|Not contested due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dubc.co.uk/siemens-boat-race-of-the-north|title=Siemens Boat Race of the North|website=Durham University Boat Club|access-date=13 April 2021}}</ref>}}
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| ''Cancelled - Newcastle retain trophy''
|-
!2019
|19
| style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
| style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
| style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
| style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
| style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
| style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
|style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle Win
|-
!2018{{efn|Postponed due to bad weather; rescheduled on the [[River Wear]] alongside [[Durham Regatta]] in a reduced format with only senior crews participating}}
|18
|style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
|style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
| 
| 
| 
| 
|style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle Win
|-
!2017
|17
|style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
|style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
|style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
|style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
|style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
|style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle Win
|-
! 2016
| 16
|style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
|style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
|style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
|style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
|style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle Win
|-
! 2015
| 15
|style="background:#003F72; color:white"| Newcastle
|style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle
| 
| 
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
| style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Draw - Newcastle retain trophy
|-
! 2014{{efn|name=nocontest|Durham chose not to contest the trophies}}
|  
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| ''Not contested - Newcastle retain trophy''
|-
! 2013{{efn|name=nocontest}}
|  
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| ''Not contested - Newcastle retain trophy''
|-
! 2012{{efn|name=nocontest}}
|  
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| ''Not contested - Newcastle retain trophy''
|-
! 2011{{efn|name=nocontest}}
|  
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| ''Not contested - Newcastle retain trophy''
|-
! 2010
| 14
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
| 
| 
|style="background:#003F72; color:white"| Newcastle
|style="background:#003F72; color:white"| Newcastle
| style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Draw - Newcastle retain trophy
|-
! 2009<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/press.release/item/newcastle-claim-first-boat-race-title |publisher=[[Newcastle University]] |title=Newcastle claim first Boat Race title |date=9 May 2009 |accessdate=9 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090522150958/http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/press.release/item/newcastle-claim-first-boat-race-title |archivedate=22 May 2009 }}</ref>
| 13
|style="background:#003F72; color:white"| Newcastle
|style="background:#003F72; color:white"| Newcastle
| 
| 
|style="background:#003F72; color:white"| Newcastle
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
|style="background:#003F72; color:white;"| Newcastle Win
|-
! 2008<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7376403.stm |publisher=[[BBC News]] |title=12th University Boat Race |date=30 April 2008 |accessdate=30 September 2008}}</ref>
| 12
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
| 
| 
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham Win
|-
! 2007
| 11
|style="background:#003F72; color:white"| Newcastle
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
| 
| 
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
|style="background:#003F72; color:white"| Newcastle
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"|Draw - Durham retain Trophy
|-
! 2006
| 10
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
| 
| 
|style="background:#003F72; color:white"| Newcastle
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham Win
|-
! 2005
| 9
|style="background:#003F72; color:white"| Newcastle
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
| 
| 
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
|style="background:#003F72; color:white"| Newcastle
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"|Draw - Durham retain Trophy
|-
! 2004
| 8
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
| 
| 
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham Win
|-
! 2003{{efn|name=badweather}}
| 7
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|style="background:#003F72; color:white"| Newcastle
|''Cancelled - Durham retain Trophy''
|-
! 2002
| 6
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
| 
| 
|style="background:#003F72; color:white"| Newcastle
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham Win
|-
! 2001
| 5
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
|style="background:#003F72; color:white"| Newcastle
| 
| 
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
| 
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham Win
|-
! 2000{{efn|name=badweather|Event cancelled due to bad weather}}
| 4
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|''Cancelled - Durham retain Trophy''
|-
! 1999
| 3
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
|style="background:#003F72; color:white"| Newcastle
| 
| 
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
| 
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham Win
|-
! 1998
| 2
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
| 
| 
|style="background:#003F72; color:white"| Newcastle
| 
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham Win
|-
! 1997
| 1
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
| 
| 
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham
| 
|style="background:#E0B0FF; color:#000;"| Durham Win
|- style=font-weight:bold
!Totals
|
|Durham 10<br />Newcastle 9
|Newcastle 10<br />Durham 9
|Newcastle 5<br />Durham 0
|Newcastle 4<br />Durham 1
|Durham 9<br />Newcastle 10
|Durham 8<br />Newcastle 8
|Durham 8<br />Newcastle 8<br />4 draws
|}

{{notelist}}

== See also ==
* [[The Boat Race]]
* [[The Welsh Boat Race]]
* [[List of British and Irish varsity matches|Varsity match]]

== Footnotes ==

{{notelist-lr}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://dubc.co.uk/ Durham University Boat Club]
* [http://newcastlerowing.com/ Newcastle University Boat Club]
* [http://www.tynerowingclub.org/ Tyne Rowing Club]

{{University of Newcastle upon Tyne}}
{{University of Durham}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Boat Race of the North, The}}
[[Category:Newcastle University]]
[[Category:Student sport rivalries in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Durham University Rowing]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1997]]
[[Category:University rowing competitions in the United Kingdom]]