The 2020 Durham Regatta was another victim of the Coronavirus after an early decision on cancellation was taken by the organisers in order to limit costs. Instead a virtual regatta was arranged over the weekend of June 13th and 14th.
Durham Regatta@Home involved individuals and teams of four competing against the clock in ergo, cycling and running disciplines and attracted 191 entries. The distances to be covered on Saturday corresponded to the Durham Regatta short course (700 metre ergo, 2km on foot and 5km cycle), and on Sunday to the long course (1800 metre ergo, 5km on foot and 10km cycle).
Members duly rose to the challenge and Durham ARC recorded victories in 23 events, the most achieved by any of the 18 clubs represented. Other successful clubs included Queen Elizabeth High School BC, Van Mildert College BC, Collingwood College BC, Lakeland RC, Maidstone Invicta/Tees RC composite, Durham School BC and Whitby Fishermans ARC, and there were 4 unaffiliated winners.
Winners from Durham ARC are listed below –
- Saturday Short Course
- Cycle 5km
- Jun 1x Lewis Davison
- WJun 1x Sian Davison
- WMas 1x Ray Dominy
- Ergo 700m
- WJun 4x Durham ARC WJ15 4x
- WMas 4x Andy’s Squad
- WJun 1x Sian Davison
- Sen 1x Nicholas Baird
- WSen 1x Vickie Sincock
- WMas 1x Joyce Collett
- Foot 2km
- Jun 1x Joseph Morrison
- WSen 1x Gabrielle Maxfield
- WMas 1x Joyce Collett
- Sunday Long Course
- Cycle 10km
- WSen 4x W4- Ashton
- WMas 1x Ray Dominy
- Ergo 1800m
- Elite 4x Old Boys and Elise
- WJun 1x Louisa Scott
- WSen 1x Vickie Sincock
- Mas 1x Andy Jaggard
- WMas 1x Joyce Collett
- Foot 5km
- Jun 1x Sam Terry
- WJ1x Ella Sampson
- Mas 1x Colin Lawson
- WMas 1x Joyce Collett
DARC also won the Victor Ludorum with 984 points, ahead of Queen Elizabeth HS who were second with 416 and Lakeland RC who placed third on 171. The full table of VL scores is here.
Results are summarised on the competition home page and full results are also provided here for Saturday and Sunday events.
Handicaps have been calculated using the percentage performance against the ‘gold medal time’ and applied based on the age of each competitor to determine the adjusted time and thus identify overall winners in Junior and Masters events (similar to the method used in British Rowing head races).
Winners will be invited to next year’s prizegiving to receive certificates commemorating their achievement.
One of the aims of the competition was to raise funds for the Regatta’s charity partner St. Cuthbert’s Hospice in Durham, which provides for those affected by life-limiting illnesses, and competitors were asked to make a donation. Contributions remain open at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/durham-regatta-at-home-2020 for anyone who would like to help.