What happened

The club (with TURC and NUBC) welcomed over 400 students to Newburn on 20 and 21 February 2016. More details of the event are at the BUCS web site and results are at here.

The headline results for the Victor Ludorum competitions were:
Women: 1) Edinburgh (296), 2) Newcastle (289), 3) Exeter (268)
Men: 1) Newcastle (507), 2) Durham (304), 3) Imperial (292)
Overall: 1) Newcastle (796), 2) Edinburgh (486), 3) Reading (441).

Background

The following text explains the background and was taken from a BUCS press release of 13/10/15

Newcastle selected as the destination city for the BUCS 4s and 8s Head in 2016 13/10/2015

Following a competitive tendering process a joint bid by three Newcastle based rowing clubs has been chosen as the host for the 2015-16 BUCS 4s and 8s Head. Tyne United RC, Tyne Amateur RC and Newcastle University RC will welcome university rowing clubs from across the UK on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st February 2016.

The winning bid was well presented and provides confidence to BUCS that racing will be staged on a fair and accessible stretch of tidal river. The three clubs, in conjunction with the BUCS Rowing Organising Committee, will deliver a well-organised and safe event, facilitating the best competition possible for student crews.

All bids received were of a high calibre and showed potential to stage an excellent rowing event. However, it was the joint bid from the clubs based at Newcastle and Gateshead which provided the most comprehensive offer.

The north eastern location will provide a great back-drop to one of the largest events in the BUCS calendar. Over 1,000 students and coaching staff are expected to attend each day and stay in the region for the weekend.

Chairperson of the BUCS Rowing Sport Advisory Group, Fiona Rennie, commented on the bidding process “It has been a really exciting period for university rowing to experience the level of interest, from a wide range of clubs, in hosting the BUCS 4s and 8s Head. We very much appreciate the amount of effort clubs and their representatives have gone to in researching their bids and putting forward proposals.”

When asked about the hosts Rennie added “In selecting to work with the clubs in Newcastle we are confident we can provide a great experience for everyone, and I’m sure the local representatives will want to add their little touch of Geordie magic to the weekend. We’re all looking forward to it!”