Past and present

Student Water Sports

ROWING

Roeiloods van U.S.R. Triton in 1895
Image: Archiefcommissie U.S.R. "Triton"

1895:

When it comes to sports, rowing has always been a student favourite. Utrecht is no exception, with no less than two student rowing clubs — Triton and Orca — and a local association in the form of Viking. The Schering en Inslag team at U.S.R. Triton won the first University rowing races, better known as the Varsity, on behalf of Utrecht University in 1895. The photo shows the winning team proudly posing in front of the boatshed on Kruisvaart near Croeselaan. That year’s edition of the Varsity was held on the Spaarne in Haarlem. A first place at the Varsity means eternal glory for the winning team, an honour no Olympic medal can compare to.

Roeiboot bij de Afroeiwedstrijden van Triton
Image: Fotocommissie U.S.R. “Triton”

2022:

Every year, Triton — the dark blue rowing association — welcomes a new crop of about three hundred students from both Utrecht University and HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht. After an initial introduction to the sport, the novices form teams and learn the ins and outs of rowing from senior members. This period culminates in a series of competitions. The photo shows the first-year teams proving themselves in a 500-metre race on Merwedekanaal, ending at the current boathouse on Verlengde Hoogravenseweg. The new members must be dreaming of winning the Varsity someday soon..