Durham College Rowing
Durham College Rowing represents all sixteen college boat clubs in Durham University and organises some rowing activities on behalf of all member clubs.
In February 2020, together with Durham University Boat Club, DCR members made up c.30% of the rowers, scullers and coxes in the British Rowing northern region. The intake of freshers each year attracts large numbers to take up the sport with typically around 500 joining learn to row courses each autumn.
DCR organises inter-collegiate competitions, trailers to competitions off the River Wear, training courses, swim tests, Senate Boat Club, and an annual ball for rowers across the university.
DCR also provides a forum for college captains to meet and discuss current rowing events, particularly safety issues, with each other and with the executive committee.
The River Wear in Durham is amongst the most crowded waterways in England, with sixteen Colleges, the University, several Schools and the town club, plus hired dinghy's, the Prince Bishop river cruiser and other watersports all within a 2.5 km stretch. To manage this congestion safely, DCR represents college clubs at Durham University Rowing Board, and in turn implements and enforces the regulations as set out by the Board.
DCR is led by the Captain of Colleges, who represents college rowers at a university and regional level, supported by a wider exec including secretary, press officer, Water Safety Officer and Treasurer. The regatta secretary sits on the executive committee and also leads the regatta committee, who are responsible for DCR competitions.
Inter-collegiate races
Durham College Rowing organises several regattas and head races each year.- Novice Cup – a coxed IV regatta held in the first term for new rowers. This was known as the Hatfield Cup until 2003, when Durham College Rowing took over the organising of the event.
- Novice Head – a 1.8 km upstream head race for novice coxed IVs.
- Senate Cup – a regatta for men's and women's coxed IVs. This intercollegiate event on the Wear in Durham has been running for well over a hundred years; with interruptions due to poor weather, the First World War, the Second World War and the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Senate Head – a 1.8 km upstream head race for experienced coxed IVs.
- Admiral's Regatta – a summer regatta; generally the final rowing event for the academic year.
- Pennant Series – a series of long and short course events in Durham city in Epiphany Term.
- The Hayward Cup – a 4 km head race on the river Tees, organised by Stephenson College Boat Club and John Snow College Boat Club. The event was discontinued when the university consolidated all colleges into Durham city.
- Butler Head – a 1.8 km upstream head race on the Durham long course, organised by Butler College Boat Club.
Structure of rowing in Durham University
Rowers, scullers and coxes in Durham University can usually be categorised as "college rowers" or "university rowers".Durham College Rowing represents the college boat clubs on Durham University Rowing Board, which oversees all rowing activities by members of Durham University. DURB aims to provide a safe environment in which rowing can take place within Durham University and promote health and safety within the sport at all levels.
Durham College Rowing organises Senate Boat Club, a high performance squad that brings together rowers from colleges, who do not wish to be part of Durham University Boat Club. In 2023–24, Senate Boat Club sent crews to BUCS Head and Henley Women's Regatta.
Clubs
DCR clubs operate from 11 separate boathouses along the navigable length of the River Wear in Durham.The following are the college rowing clubs in Durham on the River Wear, with their blade colours, and British Rowing codes:
Ustinov College, Durham, a graduate only college, also has a boat club: Ustinov Boat Club; but membership has been low and the club's membership of British Rowing and DCR has lapsed.
| Blade | Club |
| Ustinov Boat Club |
Durham University has its own boat club:
| Blade | Club |
| Durham University Boat Club |