Spring sunshine and calm conditions welcomed competitors from clubs around the Northern and Yorkshire regions who converged on the River Wear for two days of competition at Durham City Regatta on May 7th and 8th. A schedule including 240 races over the 700 metre course on Saturday and a further 135 over 500 metres on Sunday ensured officials and volunteers were kept busy.
With the Regatta taking place for the first time since 2019 competitors appeared unfazed by warnings of shallow water next to the landing stage after the dry spell. Some good racing ensued and Durham ARC enjoyed a return of victories in 18 events from around 60 entries over the two days.
The Senior Women’s coxed four of Olivia Bothamley-Dakin, Charlotte Carter, Emily Chaytor, Rachel Wilson and cox Aine Widdicombe enjoyed double success, overcoming Collingwood College to take wins on both days in the WSen 4+, and Ash Carter, Lucy Beresford, Maia Benstead and Milly Rainford won band 2 of the Women’s coxless quad on Saturday.
Open pairs
The Senior Men continued their good form after the Head of the River Race winning band 2 of the Open 8+ on Saturday and band 1 of the Open 4+ on Sunday. David Rutter got the better of Nick Baird to win band 1 of the Open single sculls on Saturday, while on Sunday John Roxborough and Dan Pearson came out on top in a contest between 3 entries from DARC to take the win in the Open pair. Also on Sunday Elliot Kay and David Beeby took the honours in the Open double sculls.
David Rutter winning the Open 1x
On Saturday the J16 boys followed up their performance at the Junior Inter Regional Regatta in April by overcoming several College crews to win the Novice 8+. Ellis Black, Thomas Crabtree, Jacob Windle and Lewis Davison also won the J18 coxless four, and Jennifer Napora, Orlagh Windle, Francesca Suggett and Libby Morris, coxed by Tilly Stoddart won the Women’s Novice coxed four. On Sunday there was a win for the J18 girls, Eve Rich, Miriam Stewart, Amy Slater and Lydia Kind, in the Women’s coxless quad.
J18 coxless four
The Masters had several successes in the single sculling events, Michael Terry winning MasD 1x, Andy Jaggard MasH 1x and Joyce Collett WMasG 1x on Saturday, and on Sunday Paul Rutter had a win in MasF 1x against Andy Jaggard. The DARC/Tees Women’s MasE 4x- composite of Gabrielle Moore, Aisling Dutton Angela Lund and Jo Lewis won on Saturday, as did Kim Forster and David Muse on Sunday, overcoming Paul and Sarah Rutter to win the Mixed double sculls.
Results from Saturday and Sunday have been provided by Oar-online.
The 189th Durham Regatta takes place on Saturday, June 11th and Sunday, June 12th, when we can look forward to a full Regatta, including bankside entertainmet and spectators, for the first time since 2018.
Shallow water