The Gemini Boat Races took place this year on Sunday, March 26th, including the 77th Women’s Boat Race, the 168th Men’s Boat Race, and the Men’s and Women’s Reserve Races.
The Men’s Race was of special interest as Matthew Edge, formerly of Durham ARC Juniors, was named at bow in the Cambridge Eight.
The Men’s race got underway on the Championship Course between Putney and Mortlake at 5pm and proved to be one of the most exciting in memory, leading to a day of celebration for Cambridge who got the verdict over Oxford by one and a third lengths, as well as achieving a clean sweep of all 4 races on the day.
The race video is available here.
The success followed that of last year in which Matthew stroked the Cambridge Lightweight Eight to victory in the Lightweight Boat Race.
Matthew who is at St Catharine’s College competed for Durham ARC for 5 years as a Junior, signing off with victory in the coxless quad at the 2018 Durham Regatta.
Celebrations for Matthew and father Alastair of the DARC Masters eight
The 2023 Interactive Investor Lightweight Boat Races took place the previous week, on Monday, March 20th, including the 40th Women’s race and the 49th Men’s race, in which Durham ARC also had an interest through former Junior Sam Taylor’s selection for the Cambridge Lightweight Men’s Eight. Sam who is studying Materials Science at Clare College competed for DARC until 2017.
The result was another resounding success for Cambridge who won the Women’s race by 6 lengths and the Men’s by 11 lengths.
You can watch the Lightweight race video here.
Cambridge Lightweight Eight 2023 (photo by CUBC)
The Club is very proud of the achievements of its former athletes.
If you are interested in rowing at DARC you can find information about our Adult and Junior Learn to Row courses here.