About UBBC
UBBC has two squads the Novice Squad and the Senior Squad.
- The Novice Squad is geared towards people of limited or no rowing experience, and aims in ONE year to teach them to row to at a competitive level.
- The Senior Squad aims to hone the skills of experienced oarsmen and women, in order to prepare them for the ultimate challenges in rowing, namely: the Head of the Rivers and the Henley Regattas. As well as provide squad members with a platform to reach national teams.
The boat club owns two boathouses situated in Saltford on the River Avon, about a 30-minute drive in the minibus from Bristol. The Saltford stretch offers about 4.2km of rowable river, including a 1.6km long straight. The whole of the stretch has the potential for side by side racing, and is the location of the UBBC Head Race in November. This is the first race for Novices joining in October.
UBBC is also fortunate to benefit from international standard equipment and coaching.Among its arsenal, UBBC men's squad now have three top VIIIs, an empacher, hudson and vespoli all purchased within the last three years. On top of this are two KIRS IVs (Kiwi International Rowing Skiffs) which are real pearls from down under. The women's squad have a vespoli VIII and several top quality IVs. The coaching squad is headed by Gordon Trevett, an internationally recognised coach having many years experience rowing and coaching with the New Zealand team and also recognised in 2007 as BUSA Coach of the Year. With Gordon are several other extremely experienced coaches with international and national rowing backgrounds.
Reasons to Join UBBC
- Train with a focused and organised squad
- Develop as an athelete and rower with potential to be involved with national teams
- Benefit from international professional coaching
- Take part in prestigious competitions such as Head of the River,Henley Royal Regatta and perhaps EUSA
- Great social life and an opportunity to make many friends
- A large and successful club
Founded in 1909, the club has operated from its present site at Saltford, near Bath for almost a century. It now has approximately 200 members, around 2% of the undergraduate body, divided into squads of different ability. The club has a successful history with several members having gained international honours. Wins at Henley Royal Regatta by our women (1998) and our men (1991), and bronze and gold in the men's VIII/coxless IV at EUSA (2006, 2007) remain amongst our proudest achievements. Equally important, in recent years our novice squads have secured gold, silver and bronze medals in their events at BUSA and have represented the club at senior level at Henley Royal Regatta.
with local links
Held in the Bristol Floating Harbour in May, the Varsity Boat Race against the University of the West of England attracts considerable support from the student body, as well as good coverage in the local media. The UBBC Head Race, held in late November at Saltford, attracts entries from rowing clubs all around the country, and further heightens the club's profile amongst the rowing community.
and international contacts
At Henley Royal Regatta, our crews compete against opposition from around the world, including the USA, Holland, Germany, Japan, Australia and South Africa. Following a successful contest in 1991, our mens eight was invited to compete at Japanese Henley in 1992.