Newcastle University

The Newcastle University Boat Club boasts a recent record of accomplishment at the highest level. Based on last year’s BUCS points tally, they stand as the most successful university team for Heavyweight men and in the top five for Heavyweight women and Lightweight men.

Catering for all ranks of rowing - from novices up to elite GB trialists - the club has progressed considerably over the past five years. With recent illustrious achievements, including a win and two course records at Henley, University Championship wins and six pennants in six years at the Head of the River annual race, even this prior prestige could not take away from NUBC’s most recent victory.

On Saturday 1^st December, on the traditional course from Scotswood to Tyne R.C at the Rutherford Head of River, Newcastle fielded a team ravaged by illness and injury, hoping to perform reasonably well in the classic north east event before the Christmas break.

Although there were many teams competing, Newcastle sighted Durham University, their longstanding rivals, as the primary competition in the field.

As it turned out, Newcastle out-rowed Durham in an unprecedented manner. The men won every single event they entered, with the 1^st VIII, 2^nd VIII, 1^st Four, 2^nd Four, Coxed Four and Novice Coxed Four all triumphant against their counterparts. The women, all with numerous absentees, beat Durham with the top VIII, Four and Coxed Four. The second VIII only lost out by a matter of seconds – a marginal loss in the ferocious five-kilometer upstream race.

Head Coach Angelo Savarino was keen to stress that there was much more hard work to come for Newcastle. “Although this is the first time we have beaten Durham in such a way, we must keep our feet on the ground. We must keep training hard.”

As part of his position, Savarino is responsible for coordinating the three volunteer coaches and full time coach beneath him, as well as working tirelessly on the team training programme. His impetus lies within a traditional framework, drawing on the philosophy that “commitment and hard work brings success.” A typical week for the team might involve an intensity session – building and sustaining power by working on low rate, large length strokes - three weights sessions and two long cycles. This is a laborious and dedicated effort even for athletes in their physical peak.

Since starting in July 2005, Savarino has witnessed a Newcastle gold, silver and multiple bronzes at the World University championships. Evidently the club has not been deprived of top results. However, now, more then ever, Newcastle can exhibit their strength in depth. The club has developed from a small team of nine senior men and five senior women, to one of thirty and twenty seniors respectively. Recent triumph has highlighted that even the loss of top rowers with injury cannot separate Newcastle from competing with the best.

 “George Rossiter, Sam Arnot, Tim Clarke, Nicole Lamb and Gemma Hall are ones to watch in the future,” says Savarino.  “With medals at the under 23 world championships between them, if they go on to fulfill their potential we could see any of them at Rio 2016.” Nicole Lamb has got a busy year ahead of her, starting with competition at the Australian youth Olympic festival in early 2013.

As a performance based club, results are a priority and the ardent recruitment of freshers is essential in maintaining a steady stream of achievement. Newcastle University Alumni Fred Gill started as a complete novice with the club in 2006. Six years on, he is an under 23 world champion, has competed in the Oxbridge boat race for Cambridge as a postgraduate and has trained with the GB Olympic team.“People like Fred can inspire many. He came from nowhere and first picked up an oar here at Newcastle.”

The head coach is also keen to dispel the misconception that rowing is an elitist sport. “People from any background and any school can have a go.” It is important for the club to encourage people from a multitude of backgrounds; potential talent can be sourced from anywhere.

As the Newcastle University Boat club goes from strength to strength it is difficult to encapsulate the dynamics at the heart of its success. Savarino however, summarised this succinctly: “The common element in this sport is hard work.”

By David Eastwood