Lancaster University Boat Club (LUBC) was first founded in 1964, with the inception of the University

Lancaster University

Lancaster University, officially The University of Lancaster, is a leading research-intensive British university in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The university was established by Royal Charter in 1964 and initially based in St Leonard's Gate until moving to a purpose-built 300 acre campus at...

, by Sir Harold Parkinson. Sir Harold funded the weir East of the Club's Boathouse in the old Halton Train Station

Halton railway station, Lancashire

Halton railway station served the village of Halton in Lancashire, England. It closed in 1966, but the station building and part of one platform survive beside the cycle path along the disused line....

 in order to enable better conditions for rowing.

Boat House

As mentioned above, the Lancaster University Boat House takes the form of the disused Halton Train Station on Denny Beck Lane, a mile North of Lancaster. Closed in 1966 to passengers, the old platform is now used for ergometer

Indoor rower

An indoor rower, or rowing machine, is a machine used to simulate the action of watercraft rowing for the purpose of exercise or training for rowing. Indoor rowing has become established as a sport in its own right...

 workouts, and the station building itself houses the changing rooms and racking. Racking exists for up to ten rigged larger boats (Eights

Eight (rowing)

An Eight is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for eight rowers, who propel the boat with sweep oars, and is steered by a coxswain, or cox....

/Fours). There is also racking for the Club's small boat fleet. Plans did exist in the late 20th Century for a shared boathouse with the other clubs using the river, John O' Gaunt RC and Lancaster Royal Grammar School BC.

River

The stretch of river used by Lancaster University BC is around 3 km, and is situated between the Halton road bridge, situated 100m West of the weir built by Sir Harold Parkinson, and the Skerton Weir adjacent to John O' Gaunt RC, which marks the upper extent of the tidal Lune

River Lune

The River Lune is a river in Cumbria and Lancashire, England.It is formed at Wath, in the parish of Ravenstonedale, Cumbria, at the confluence of Sandwath Beck and Weasdale Beck...

. The river passes below the Grade I listed 18th Century Lune Aqueduct. The Lancaster City Regatta takes place upon this stretch of the Lune, as do the regular Red Rose head races and sprints, organised by John O' Gaunt RC.

Head Races

Dee Autumn Head

York Small Boats Head

BUCS Head

Women's Head of the River

North of England Head

Head of the River

Regattas

BUCS Regatta

Metropolitan Regatta

Durham Regatta

Marlow International Regatta

Henley Women's Regatta

Varsity

The Club was the founding club of the Roses Varsity race

Roses Tournament

The Roses Tournament is an annual sports competition between Lancaster University and the University of York in England. It is organised by their respective Students' Unions, YUSU and LUSU. It takes its name from the 15th Century civil war, The Wars of the Roses, between the House of Lancaster...

 with York University

York University

York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....

. This originated in 1965 when the Vice Chancellor of York suggested a boat race between the two institutions. This varsity race developed into the Roses Competition, which sees scores of York and Lancaster athletes compete across a wide range of sports, alternating the venue between the Universities annually. In 2009 the Victor Ludorum of the competition was York, taking 12 points of a possible 20 in the rowing events. In 2010 York failed to field a squad for the rowing, causing some controversy.

The Francis Russell Trophy is also fought for each year between Lancaster John O' Gaunt RC and Lancaster University BC. This originated in 1989 when club captain Francis Russell lost his life after going over Skerton Weir in a November training session. The trophy takes the form of a mounted rudder, that of the boat that went over the weir.

Club Boats

Lancaster's fleet is composed mainly of Eights and Fours, with a collection of smaller sculling boats.

Eights

Mens 8+ - Francis Russell - 2009 KIRS 90 kg+

Mens 8+ - Sir Christian Bonington - 2005 Sims 100 kg+

Women's 8+ - Tom McNerney - 1997 Aylings 75–85 kg

Women's 8+ - HRH Princess Alexandra - 2007 WinTech 75-85 kg

Novice 8+ - Tewkesbury Abbey - 19** Burgashell Unknown Weight

Fours

Women's 4+ - Sir Harold Parkinson - 2005 Sims 75–80 kg

Women's 4+ - Lord Morgan of Glossop - 1997 Aylings 75 kg

Mens 4+ - Don Moore - 2001 Janousek 90 kg

Mens 4+ - Harry Lightfoot - 199* Aylings 80 kg

Mens 4- - Aaron Scholer - 199* Sims 85 kg

Sculls

1x - General Custard - 19** - 80 kg

1x - Colonel Mustard - 19** - 70 kg

1x - Ronnie - 19** Sims - 70–120 kg

2x - Diatesseron - 19** - 65–75 kg

Ergometers

1 Model D Concept II Ergometer PM4

2 Model D Concept II Ergometers PM3

1 Model C Concept II Ergometer PM3

4 Model C Concept II Ergometers PM2