Downing College Boat Club is one of the most established and largest clubs on the Cam. The primary purpose of the Club is to represent Downing College, Cambridge in the Lent and May Bumps on the river. DCBC is the largest sports club at the College and provides unrivalled opportunities for all members to begin, or further their rowing at all levels.

DCBC boasts one of the most recent and best equipped boat clubs on the river, thanks to continued and generous support from the College and an extensive network of past members. The Club remains very successful in all of the annual races during the three terms. DCBC won both Men’s and Women’s titles in the Fairbairns Head Race in 2003, whilst the women held their first Lent Headship in 2004 and successfully defended it the year after. In addition to this, in 2006 DCBC won the Men’s University Coxless IV’s event. The Men have performed to a consistently high standard and have returned to the top 3 of the Lents again this year. In the May Bumps both the Men and Women are keenly placed to do well this year, in 9th and 12th place respectively.

The Club is immensely fortunate to enjoy the support of numerous previous members as well as from the current coach, Ian Watson. Ian holds several international standard medals and his dedication to the Club and to coaching students of all levels of experience is unrivalled amongst the Colleges. Past members continue to supply an invaluable resource of time and expertise and stand as testament to the way in which the Club fosters such strong social bonds. Indeed, the social aspect of the Club is incredibly important to all members. The termly Boat Club Dinner is reputedly one of the best nights of term, whilst cocktail parties and formal swaps provide ample opportunity to have fun off the water with team-mates. The Downing Tribe, the social society for the senior men has emerged as a society of considerable salience within College, and hosts the largest garden party of May Week, on the Downing College Paddock.

The facilities at DCBC provide a great opportunity for you to begin or advance your rowing or coxing career using some of the best equipment available, in a stimulating and exciting atmosphere where the rewards can be incredible. Recent purchases of Fillippi and Stampfli fine racing VIIIs add to a fleet of boats which is already impressive and which include a number of Janousek VIIIs as well as smaller IVs, pairs and single sculls.

For those looking to row for the first time at College, coaching from Lower Boats Captains will provide the essential basis in a fun environment amongst like-minded and similarly skilled students. If, however, you have rowed before, the senior squad is always keen to welcome new students and will guarantee to elevate your performance. There is a good trend amongst Downing students representing the University in boat races against Oxford, with two of this year’s Cambridge Lightweight VIII coming from our College; a trend the Club endeavours to maintain.