boat club
Row row row your boat...Dundee University Boat Club is pulling its weight in national competitions. Now it's selling off its oars to fund new developments. Club treasurer Robin Dickinson writes:
On being told that Dundee University has a thriving Boat Club which fields rowing teams for the Scottish leagues and competitions including Henley Royal Regatta, the usual response is incredulous laughter. One does not normally associate Dundee with the Pimms, garden parties, and old school ties typically linked to the sport.
Nor is the Tay estuary particularly conducive to rowing, being windy, tidal, and hardly the cleanest stretch of water to row on. Despite these apparent disadvantages, rowing at Dundee University has gone from strength to strength in the last couple of seasons under the capable and determined presidency of Charlotte Marjoribanks. Current captains Michael Wilson and Sarah McConnell are seeking to expand still further.
The roots of DUBC lie in the early 1990s. Apart from remnants of the earliest boats lying in the waste ground behind the current boathouse, and club myths concerning narrow escapes needing coastguard intervention, we know little about early membership or competition details. We would be interested to hear from any ex-members, particularly with photographs, stories, or competition results with which we can start piecing together the club history for our files and web-site (www.sportsunion.dundee.ac.uk/boatclub/).
We row on a five mile stretch of the Tay between Perth and the site of our boathouse at Inchyra, 15 miles upstream of Dundee. Although this part of the Tay is less exposed than in Dundee, water conditions are still highly variable, ranging from idyllic mill-pond to distinctly choppy, when wind and tide directions are in conflict. Novices are introduced to the sport by experienced rowers in a combination of Wednesday afternoon and weekend outings, being taught from the very basics up to more advanced technique needed for races. All members are actively encouraged to compete for the University in the Scottish rowing league, thereby building the team spirit at the core of our club.
The pinnacle of last season was our entry of a squad for Henley Royal Regatta. Although we did not qualify (along with 30 other considerably more experienced and better funded teams from all over the world), the experience gained has already shaped training for our attempt to qualify in 2002. This preparation has borne immediate fruit with our recent victories in the Men's Novice coxed IV categories of the inaugural St. Andrews University regatta, and the Aberdeen and Glasgow Head of the River races. The men's team claimed victory at the Clydesdale Head of the River in Glasgow to finish third in the Scottish Universities Winter League Table.
Following a highly visible if slightly risque publicity drive for incoming students recently, active membership now approaches 40 including six regular racing crews ranging from Lightweight Women's to Heavyweight Men's crews in both coxed IVs and VIIIs. As the numbers have grown, so has the burden of wear and tear on ageing equipment.
Last year we raised over £1,500 towards the purchase of 16 second-hand 'cleaver' oars and a training VIII - a bright green boat affectionately dubbed 'Tayrannosaurus Wreck' - through grants from the Graduate Council Fund and the Rowing Foundation charity. We have established a club-house association with the 'Art Bar' on Perth Road, who have contributed financially towards running costs of the club, as well as giving substantial discounts on beer!
This year it became abundantly obvious that, with the increase in numbers travelling to races, we required a larger boat trailer for all the equipment. This we bought with a loan from the Sports Union, which we are committed to repay over the next year. To this end, we are organising an official Boat Race against the Universities of Strathclyde and St Andrews with sponsors providing prize-money.
Now our needs focus on a generator and lighting in the boathouse, enabling boat maintenance outwith daylight hours and increasing the range of activities possible at Inchyra when conditions preclude rowing. Eventually, we aim to secure funds for professional coaching sessions; to refurbish our existing Janousek coxed 4; and to acquire another coxed 4 for the experienced racing crews. To raise funds we are offering for sale a limited number of wooden oars as souvenirs for any ex-member of the University interested in supporting our venture. The blades will be prepared in DUBC colours (all black with a red stripe) with the handles cut down to a convenient length for wall hanging, and will be priced around £100 (+ p&p). We would be delighted to hear from any Dundee University alumnus who wishes to support our expansion plan, either through purchase of an oar, personal contributions, or sponsorship.
Through the enthusiasm of our committee and membership over the years, DUBC has risen from humble origins to seriously challenging more established clubs in the Scottish rowing community. As we prepare to meet the challenges ahead, we look forward to preserving the cheerful and friendly atmosphere that has marked membership of DUBC since its creation.
For further details or correspondence, our address is: Dundee University Boat Club, c/o The Sports Union Students Union Building Airlie Place Dundee DD1 4HN
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