| Dublin University Boat Club | |
|---|---|
| Location | Islandbridge, Dublin, Ireland |
| Home Water | River Liffey |
| Website | www.tcdlife.ie/clubs/boat/index.php |
| Events | |
| Trinity Regatta | |
Dublin University Boat Club (DUBC) is the Rowing club of Trinity College, Dublin. The club operates from its boat house at Memorial Park, Islandbridge, on the South Bank of the River Liffey. The club colours are black and white with a royal blue shield bearing the arms of Trinity College.
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Dublin University Boat Club's beginnings can be found in the formation of the Pembroke Club in 1836. It was formed by University men and was primarily concerned with the rowing of small boats at Ringsend. In 1847, it was decided that the club membership be restricted to those with ties to the college. In doing so they amalgamated with the fledgling University Rowing Club to become the Dublin University Rowing Club. This club was the first Irish club to field a crew at Henley Royal Regatta. For the next 43 years it was by far the most successful Irish rowing club. 1866 saw a split in the DURC and the formation of the Dublin University Boat Club. The next 32 years saw both win at Henley, and the majority of important Irish rowing trophies being shared between these two clubs.
In 1898 old differences were put aside and the two clubs amalgamated under the name of the Boat Club, they promptly agreed on the motto FTM FL. The familiar black and white hoops of the Trinity zephyr were retained from the boat club and adopted as the colours for the new club.
Since 1881, DUBC has established itself firmly as one of the most successful clubs in Irish rowing. Its accolades include seven Henley wins; the Visitors Challenge Cup three times, the Ladies' Challenge Plate twice, the Wyfold Challenge Cup and the Thames Challenge Cup. Most of these victories were recorded in the 19th century, however. The most recent Henley victory for DUBC was in 1977. On the domestic scene, DUBC are surpassed by Neptune RC and others, with 23 victories in the IARU Senior Eight’s Championships and 28 victories in the Wylie Cup, the Irish University Championship. In the annual Gannon Cup match against University College Dublin Boat Club (UCDBC), the record is DUBC 35 wins to UCD's 27. DUBC also holds a 4-2 advantage over Queen's University Belfast, in the recently established Lomac Tiles Boat Race.
In Black and White: A History of Rowing at Trinity College Dublin by Raymond Blake (Dublin University Press, 1991)