The Boat Race of the North is an annual rowing event between the boat clubs of Durham and Newcastle universities in England. The event is usually staged on the River Tyne in Newcastle, although the 2018 race was held on the River Wear in Durham. The inaugural event took place on 18 May 1997. Durham won eight of the first twelve competitions while Newcastle has won on four occasions since then. The event was sponsored for a number of years until 2010 by Northumbrian Water, and hence was known as the Northumbrian Water University Boat Race for this period. No races took place over the period 2011 – 2014, but the race resumed in 2015. Since 2015 the race had been sponsored by the NE1 business development company, with Siemens also sponsoring from 2017, when the race became the Siemens Boat Race of the North. Races The main rowing event consists of six races (from 2016), with trophies for the first and novice eights commemorating 19th century Tyne rowers Local entertainment is often provided, and other spectacles such as a parade of tall ships, a University Sailing Contest and a University Canoe Water Polo contest have enlivened the atmosphere prior to the main race. Presentations are made after the races have finished in Baltic Square on the Gateshead side of the river. The 2006 race and the crews' build up to the race was filmed for an ITV television show about rowing in the North East. A race for junior rowers takes place before the main university races over the same course. It is usually contested between Tyne Rowing Club representing Newcastle and a composite of Durham Schools (usually Durham School and St Leonard's) representing Durham. The event does not count towards the overall trophy. Recent years 2009 event The 2009 boat race took place on Saturday 9 May; this was the 13th event, although only ten of the twelve prior competitions had taken place, owing to bad weather. River-based entertainment started at 3:30pm, with the start of racing at 4:40pm. Newcastle took the overall title for the first time. 2010 event In 2010 the event was held on Sunday 9 May, beginning at 1:00pm, following a race between schoolchildren (won by the Durham crew). It was moved from the Saturday to get better spectator numbers. The Boat Race was a draw, with Newcastle taking both the Freshmen's and Freshwomen's