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, alongside regular socials each term.
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. We have hosted alumni regularly over the past year for events such as our landing stage opening ceremony, the boat naming, the boat club ball and invited them to attend events which we race at. We have also had alumni entering crews such as last year at Durham Regatta.
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, being the only one steering them and 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.
We are always welcoming new members, please get in touch!
Our History of Success
2025 - 2026
- Durham Autumn Small Boats Head
- Won W Band 3 4+
- Novice Cup
- Won Op Erg relay
- Derwentwater Head
- Won Op 2x
- Durham City Regatta
- Won Band 1 Op 2x
- Won Band 2 W 8+
- Won Band 3 W 8+
- Hexham Regatta
- Won Band 2 Mx 8+
- Won Band 3 Op 4+
- Durham Regatta
- Won Op Int 1x
- Won Op NC (B) 4+
- WEHORR - 278th
- HORR - 235th and 358th
2024-2025
Durham Autumn Small Boats Head
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Won Op 4+ Band 2
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Rutherford Head
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Won Op 4+ College Pennant
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Derwentwater Head
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Won Op 8+ and Fastest Open Crew
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Won Op 4+
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Hexham Regatta
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Won W 2x Band 2
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Won Mx 8+ Band 2
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Durham Regatta
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Won Op Int 8+
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WEHoRR - 277th
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HoRR - 223rd
2023-2024
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Rutherford Head
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Won Op 4+ College Pennant
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Tyne New Years Head
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Won W 8+ Band 3
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Durham Regatta
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2nd Place Op College 4+
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WEHoRR - 138th
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HoRR - 213th and 298th
2022 - 2023
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Senate Cup
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Op 4+ 2nd place
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Durham Autumn Small Boats Head
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Won Op 2x
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Won Op 1x Band 2
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Won W 4+ Band 2
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Durham Small Boats Head
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Won Op 4+ Band 3
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Won Op 2x
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Tyne Head
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Won W 8+ Band 3, fastest college crew
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Op 8+ fastest college crew
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WeHoRR
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Fastest college crew
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Durham City Coronation Regatta
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Won Op 1x Band 2
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Won Op 4+ Band 1
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Won Op 4+ Band 2
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Won Mx 4+ (HBBC vs HBBC final)
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Durham Regatta
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2nd Place Op College 4+
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WEHoRR - 143rd and 298th
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HoRR - 177th and 290th
Results before 2022
2021 - 2022
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Novice Cup
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Fastest Open erg time on the Sunday
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WEHoRR - 246th
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HoRR - 148th and 255th
2017 - 2018
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Novice Cup
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Won Op Novice Cup
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Rutherford Head
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Won fastest women's college pennant
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Durham Regatta
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Won Open College 4+
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Won Women's College 4+
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Won W Elite B 4+
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WEHoRR - 168th
2016 - 2017
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Rutherford Head
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Won fastest Open College Pennant
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BUCS Regatta
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3rd Place in Op Int 8+ Final C
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Durham Regatta
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Won Open College 4+
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2015 - 2016
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Rutherford Head
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Won fastest open college pennant
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Durham Regatta
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Won Open College 4+
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Won Op IM2 8+ (a)
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Won Op IM2 8+
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Henley Royal Regatta
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Qualified for the Prince Albert Challenge Cup
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Lost to Oxford Brookes University on the Thursday
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HoRR - 153rd
2014 - 2015
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Rutherford Head
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Won fastest open college pennant
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Durham Regatta
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Won Open College 4+
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Henley Royal Regatta
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Qualified for the Temple Challenge Cup
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Lost to University of Virginia by 1 3/4 lengths on the Wednesday
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2013 - 2014
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Rutherford Head
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Won fastest open college pennant
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Durham Regatta
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Won Open College 4+
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Won Ch 8+
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2011 - 2012
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Henley Royal Regatta
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Qualified for the Prince Albert Challenge Cup
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Lost to University of London by 1 3/4 lengths on the Wednesday
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2010 - 2011
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Novice Cup
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Won the Women's Plate
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Durham Regatta
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Won W IM3 4+
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Henley Royal Regatta
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Qualified for the Temple Challenge Cup
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Lost to Yale University by 1 1/4 lengths on the Wednesday
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2009 - 2010
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Durham Regatta
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Won Op Nov 8+
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Henley Royal Regatta
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Qualified for the Temple Challenge Cup
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Beat Liverpool University on the Wednesday
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Lost to Amsterdamsche Studenten Roeivereeniging Nereus, Holland on the Thursday
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2008 - 2009
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Durham Regatta
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Won Open College 4+
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Won Nov 4+ (a)
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Won Nov 4+ (b)
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Henley Royal Regatta
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Fastest non-qualifiers for the Prince Albert Challenge Cup
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2007 - 2008
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Head of the Charles
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Club Eights Men
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Placed 55th
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Club Eights Women
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Placed 50th
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2006 - 2007
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Head of the Charles
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Club Eights Women
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Placed 36th
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Club Eights Men
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Placed 43rd
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Henley Women's Regatta
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Qualified for the GP Jeffries Cup
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Lost to Osiris on the Saturday
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2003 - 2004
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Head of the Charles
1988 - 1989
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Henley Women's Regatta
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Qualified for College Eights, Division A
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Beat Somerville College Oxford on the Friday
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Beat University College Oxford on the Saturday
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Lost to Wolfson College Oxford in the final
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