The Welsh Boat Race
Encyclopedia
The Welsh Boat Race
, also known as the Welsh University Boat Race and The Welsh Varsity Boat Race, is an annual rowing
race in Wales between the Swansea University Rowing Club
and the Cardiff University Boat Club, rowed between competing eights
each spring on the River Tawe
or River Taff
in South Wales
.
The Welsh Boat Race started in 2006 with just a senior men's and women's event and as popularity grew for the event and particularly the Swansea University Rowing Club
grew in numbers (having been recently reinstated), a 'Freshers' event was added for both men and women in their first year of rowing.
The race has been popular with students from both universities and parents of members, and has been held on a Wednesday, to complement the Welsh Varsity
event and continued this way until 2009. However, due to increasing popularity from Alumni, parents and the general public, The Welsh Boat Race was later moved to a weekend date to enable more people to attend.
The 2010 Welsh Boat Race was held on the River Tawe, in Swansea on Saturday 24 April. The aim is to alternate the venue between the two university rivers.
|width="200"|
|width="200"|
|
|}
Race reports:
2007,
2009
2010
The Cardiff University RC have been established for some years. As such they have a solid club structure and boating facilities and have claimed the majority of the wins. Swansea University RC started only in 2004, and, since then, they have claimed Senior Mens wins for the past two consecutive years, although have not yet dominated the event.
, also known as the Welsh University Boat Race and The Welsh Varsity Boat Race, is an annual rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
race in Wales between the Swansea University Rowing Club
Swansea University Rowing Club
The Swansea University Rowing Club is the rowing club of Swansea University, Wales, and is situated on the west bank of the River Tawe in Swansea...
and the Cardiff University Boat Club, rowed between competing 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....
each spring on the River Tawe
River Tawe
The River Tawe is a river in South Wales. It flows in a principally south-westerly direction for some from its source below Moel Feity in the Old Red Sandstone hills of the western Brecon Beacons to the Bristol Channel at Swansea. Its main tributaries are the right bank Upper and Lower Clydach...
or River Taff
River Taff
The River Taff is a large river in Wales. It rises as two rivers in the Brecon Beacons — the Taf Fechan and the Taf Fawr — before joining to form the Taff north of Merthyr Tydfil...
in South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
.
The Welsh Boat Race started in 2006 with just a senior men's and women's event and as popularity grew for the event and particularly the Swansea University Rowing Club
Swansea University Rowing Club
The Swansea University Rowing Club is the rowing club of Swansea University, Wales, and is situated on the west bank of the River Tawe in Swansea...
grew in numbers (having been recently reinstated), a 'Freshers' event was added for both men and women in their first year of rowing.
The race has been popular with students from both universities and parents of members, and has been held on a Wednesday, to complement the Welsh Varsity
Welsh Varsity
The Welsh Varsity takes place every year between Cardiff University and Swansea University. The many sports represented at this event include rugby union, hockey, squash, badminton, lacrosse, rowing, golf, basketball, football, netball, fencing and an array of other sports including many martial...
event and continued this way until 2009. However, due to increasing popularity from Alumni, parents and the general public, The Welsh Boat Race was later moved to a weekend date to enable more people to attend.
The 2010 Welsh Boat Race was held on the River Tawe, in Swansea on Saturday 24 April. The aim is to alternate the venue between the two university rivers.
Men's race
- 2006 - Cardiff
- 2007 - Cardiff
- 2008 - Cardiff
- 2009 - Swansea
- 2010 - Swansea-In a time of 5:55
- 2011 - Cardiff
|width="200"|
Women's race
- 2006 - Cardiff
- 2007 - Cardiff
- 2008 - Cardiff
- 2009 - Cardiff
- 2010 - Cardiff-In a time of 7:05
- 2011 - Cardiff
|width="200"|
Fresher Men's race
- 2006 - No race
- 2007 - No race
- 2008 - No race
- 2009 - Cardiff
- 2010 - Cardiff-In a time of 6:02
- 2011 - Cardiff
|
Fresher Women's race
- 2006 - No race
- 2007 - No race
- 2008 - No race
- 2009 - Cardiff
- 2010 - Cardiff-In a time of 7:10
- 2011 - Cardiff
|}
Race reports:
2007,
2009
2010
The Cardiff University RC have been established for some years. As such they have a solid club structure and boating facilities and have claimed the majority of the wins. Swansea University RC started only in 2004, and, since then, they have claimed Senior Mens wins for the past two consecutive years, although have not yet dominated the event.
Course
The course has historically been rowed on the lower reaches of the River Taff from Penarth Road bridge to Cardiff Bay over approximately 2 kilometres. In 2010 the venue changed to the River Tawe's slightly straighter course of again approximately 2 km from the old copperworks to the Sail Bridge. The course length is restricted due to the available rivers in the South Wales region, but the training put in by both universities for the Welsh Boat Race can then be transferred to complement the start of the shorter distance regatta season.- 2006 - River Taff (Cardiff)
- 2007 - River Taff (Cardiff)
- 2008 - River Taff (Cardiff)
- 2009 - River Taff (Cardiff)
- 2010 - River Tawe (Swansea)
- 2011 - River Taff (Cardiff)
See also
- Welsh Amateur Rowing AssociationWelsh Amateur Rowing AssociationWelsh Rowing is the governing body for the sport of rowing in Wales. It is responsible for promoting the sport in Wales and for the organisation of all national rowing competitions held in Wales, including the 'Head of the Taff' and the Welsh Open Rowing Championships...
- Swansea University Rowing Club website
- Cardiff University Boat Club website