—Tom Crossland, HUBC President, talks exclusively in the first of this year’s Hullfire club spotlight feature
There is a little known piece of University property in a playing field on the banks of the River Hull. This is the University Boathouse, a small, squat building, and not much to look at, but for a hardy bunch of students it can seem like they spend more time in this building than in their own homes. Every year a new group of eager young men and women, most of who have only seen a rowing boat on
ITV during the Boat Race, start on their journey to become University of Hull Rowers. These complete beginners soon learn that to compete against the big rowing universities of the North East, Durham and Newcastle, will take dedication and commitment. However, each year these new rowers are
given the opportunity to join the oldest sports club in the University – so old the Boat Club pre-dates the Athletics Union – and compete for the University.
This year has been a bumper year for the Boat Club with 30 returning members and 50 new members wishing to contend for the opportunity row in a University of Hull boat at the biggest race of the year, our Boat Race, BUSA Regatta.
Following the success of the past couple of years, with many wins at races all over the North of England and silver at BUSA Regatta for Emily Walzcak and Carrie Fuller, there are high hopes the year ahead. Unfortunately, the excitement for the coming year is now mixed with some trepidation. The reason for this has to do with that little known piece of University property, The Boathouse. It needs a great deal of TLC, and with no toilets, hot water or showers, the University is rightly reluctant to
let students participate in a water sport without these basic requirements, and can not spend the £20,000 needed to bring up to standard for the benefit of the 80 rowers. So as of January 2009, the doors to the Boathouse may close forever, bringing to an end 150 years of rowing on the River Hull.
At first glance the outlook for the Boat Club may seem dire. However, this has spurred the Athletic Union (AU), the Alumni Association, the University and the Amateur Rowing Association (ARA) into action, working in partnership with the Boat Club committee to find a secure future for the club. A number of options are now being explored. The first, supported by the ARA, is to open a new public rowing club in Hull, based in the old University Boathouse. The University Boat Club would, at the beginning, run this new club, although this would put extra pressure on the Boat Club committee. The second is to take the Boat Club members to another rowing club, based in Lincolnshire, where the club would row under a new name except in BUSA and BUCS events.
Staying or moving will both provide unique challenges during the coming months. However, one thing is for sure – Hull University Boat Club is here to stay and there will be rowing offered as a sport at the University for the next 65 years. The Boat Club is always looking for enthusiastic new members; if you would like to try rowing please contact Laura Bennett (VP Sports and Leisure) in the AU office or
contact the Boat Club President Tom Crossland by email on trcrossland@bluebottle.com.
Tom Crossland
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