About Us

Our History

Rowing on the Wear since 1883

Rowing has been at the forefront of college sport from the founding of both colleges. Since the merger of The Venerable Bede and St. Hild in 1975, our strengths as a club have only grown. Today, Hild Bede Boat Club stands as one of the most competitive and historic college boat clubs in Durham, boasting a rich tradition of success on the River Wear.

HBBC Now

On the Water

Our year starts with winter head season, with highlights for the senior crew being Durham Autumn Small Boats Head and the term concluding with Rutherford Head on the Tyne. The Novices have their first race with Nov Cup in November.

After Christmas, the focus shifts to training for WeHoRR and HoRR, but does not neglect local races such as Tyne New Years Head, Durham Small Boats Head and Derwentwater Head. Novices have their last race with Nov Head before they move to the senior squads.

Summer term is the highlight for many rowers, with Durham Regatta being the culmination of a year of hard work.

Following this is some more relaxed - but still competitive - racing, with our Varsity against Cuth's and then Admiral's regatta with its fun, themed attire.

Off the Water

Beyond training for races, the club fosters a welcoming and social atmosphere that caters to rowers and social members alike. Highlights of the calendar include the Boat Club Ball in February, the Armitage alumni dinner in London at Easter and the summer beach & BBQ trip.

New Rowers

Our club welcomes rowers at any level and boasts a strong novice programme, with many novices having rowed in the top 8 by the end of their time at Hild Bede. See below for details on joining the club!

Old Rowers

For the alumni of the college, Armitage Boat Club was set up in recent years to ensure that a long-lasting connection between ex and current students can be maintained.

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Row at Hild Bede

Novices

Learning to row at Hild Bede is a highlight of many students' time at the college. With a comprehensive novice program and dedicated training hours, you'll develop the skills needed to transition into the senior squad by summer term.

Novices have two dedicated races: Novice Cup in Michaelmas, featuring side-by-side racing, and Novice Head in Epiphany, a time-trial event.

Some novices even progress to the senior squad early, with several competing in prestigious events such as the Head of the River Race in London after less than six months of training.

Experienced Rowers

At Hild Bede, we strike the perfect balance between high-level competition and the social side of rowing. We typically field two senior eights in major races, offering both a competitive and flexible approach to training—right up to competing for the top college 4+ on the Wear.

Coxing

Of course, no crew is complete without its cox. As a cox, you’ll take charge of your crew on the water, playing a crucial role in leading and motivating them—making it one of the most rewarding positions in the boat.

While we welcome experienced coxes, we take particular pride in developing complete beginners. Many of our coxes go on to lead top crews at major races, including HoRR, WeHoRR, Durham Regatta, and even Henley Royal Regatta.

Rowing at Hild Bede

We are always welcoming new members, please get in touch!

Senior Men's Captains

James Garfield & Henry Teall

Senior Women's Captains

Zahra Wilkinson & Willow Bradshaw-Murrow

Novice Men's Captain

Solly Davey

Novice Women's Captains

Gemma Cleave & Chiara Diotallevi

Captain of Coxes

Honor Pink

Get in Touch

2024-2025

Durham Autumn Small Boats Head

- Won Op 4+ Band 2
Rutherford Head
- Won Op 4+ College Pennant
Derwentwater Head
- Won Op 8+ and Fastest Open Crew
- Won Op 4+
Hexham Regatta
- Won W 2x Band 2
- Won Mx 8+ Band 2
Durham Regatta
- Won Op Int 8+

WEHoRR - 277th
HoRR - 223rd

2023-2024

Rutherford Head
- Won Op 4+ College Pennant
Tyne New Years Head
- Won W 8+ Band 3
Durham Regatta
- 2nd Place Op College 4+

WEHoRR - 138th
HoRR - 213th and 298th

2022 - 2023

Senate Cup
- Op 4+ 2nd place
Durham Autumn Small Boats Head
- Won Op 2x
- Won Op 1x Band 2
- Won W 4+ Band 2
Durham Small Boats Head
- Won Op 4+ Band 3
- Won Op 2x
Tyne Head
- Won W 8+ Band 3, fastest college crew
- Op 8+ fastest college crew
WeHoRR
- Fastest college crew
Durham City Coronation Regatta
- Won Op 1x Band 2
- Won Op 4+ Band 1
- Won Op 4+ Band 2
- Won Mx 4+ (HBBC vs HBBC final)
Durham Regatta
- 2nd Place Op College 4+

WEHoRR - 143rd and 298th
HoRR - 177th and 290th

2021 - 2022

Novice Cup
- Fastest Open erg time on the Sunday
Senate Cup
- 2nd place W 4+
- 2nd place Op 4+
Hexham Regatta
- 2nd place Op 8+
- 2nd place Op 4+
Durham Regatta
- 2nd place Op College 4+

WEHoRR - 246th
HoRR - 148th and 255th

2017 - 2018

Novice Cup
- Won Op Novice Cup
Rutherford Head
- Won fastest women's college pennant
Durham Regatta
- Won Open College 4+
- Won Women's College 4+
- Won W Elite B 4+

WEHoRR - 168th

2016 - 2017

Rutherford Head
- Won fastest Open College Pennant
BUCS Regatta
- 3rd Place in Op Int 8+ Final C
Durham Regatta
- Won Open College 4+

2015 - 2016

Rutherford Head
- Won fastest open college pennant
Durham Regatta
- Won Open College 4+
- Won Op IM2 8+ (a)
- Won Op IM2 8+
Henley Royal Regatta
- Qualified for the Prince Albert Challenge Cup
  - Lost to Oxford Brookes University on the Thursday
HoRR - 153rd

Our History of Success

Results before 2015

2014 - 2015

Rutherford Head
- Won fastest open college pennant
Durham Regatta
- Won Open College 4+
Henley Royal Regatta
- Qualified for the Temple Challenge Cup
  - Lost to University of Virginia by 1 3/4 lengths on the Wednesday

2013 - 2014

Rutherford Head
- Won fastest open college pennant
Durham Regatta
- Won Open College 4+
- Won Ch 8+

2011 - 2012

Henley Royal Regatta
- Qualified for the Prince Albert Challenge Cup
  - Lost to University of London by 1 3/4 lengths on the Wednesday

2010 - 2011

Novice Cup
- Won the Women's Plate
Durham Regatta
- Won W IM3 4+
Henley Royal Regatta
- Qualified for the Temple Challenge Cup
  - Lost to Yale University by 1 1/4 lengths on the Wednesday

2009 - 2010

Durham Regatta
- Won Op Nov 8+
Henley Royal Regatta
- Qualified for the Temple Challenge Cup
  - Beat Liverpool University on the Wednesday
  - Lost to Amsterdamsche Studenten Roeivereeniging Nereus, Holland on the Thursday

2008 - 2009

Durham Regatta
- Won Open College 4+
- Won Nov 4+ (a)
- Won Nov 4+ (b)
Henley Royal Regatta
- Fastest non-qualifiers for the Prince Albert Challenge Cup

2007 - 2008

Head of the Charles
- Club Eights Men
  - Placed 55th
- Club Eights Women
  - Placed 50th

2006 - 2007

Head of the Charles
- Club Eights Women
  - Placed 36th
- Club Eights Men
  - Placed 43rd
Henley Women's Regatta
- Qualified for the GP Jeffries Cup
  - Lost to Osiris on the Saturday

2003 - 2004

Head of the Charles

1988 - 1989

Henley Women's Regatta
- Qualified for College Eights, Division A
  - Beat Somerville College Oxford on the Friday
  - Beat University College Oxford on the Saturday
  - Lost to Wolfson College Oxford in the final

Hild Bede Boat Club