After 3 weeks of subdued activity and no entries at Wansbeck Regatta or the National Schools Regatta the season continued with Hexham Regatta on June 3rd, always a very popular event particularly with students, falling towards the end of the academic year and the week before Durham Regatta.
As Durham ARC provides transport for Durham College boats this year’s regatta surpassed previous records, requiring the closure of the Club car park on Thursday to facilitate loading of seven trailers with boats from 15 Colleges as well as from DARC’s 37 entries for the return trip to Tyne Green on Saturday, as well as provision of drivers and hire of towing vehicles.
Early mist cleared, heralding sunshine for the 11 hours of racing that followed, although the low water level made boating conditions more difficult than usual. A successful day produced 14 event wins for DARC and good performances with the club on occasions providing both finalists.
The Juniors won the J13 4x+ in division 1 then the WJ13 4x+ in division 2. The J14 girls provided both crews for the final of the WJ14 2x which was won by Jasmine Kane and Isabelle Maddison, and there was another win in division 2 for Jake Wilkes in the J17 1x.
Wins for Masters came in division 2 for Michael Terry in MasD 1x and Andy Jaggard in MasH 1x, and for Fe Ashton, Kate Sowden, Debra Nichol and Sarah Buist in the WMasB 4x-, and Angela Lund, Gabrielle Moore, Helen McMillan and Caroline Scholl in the WMasF 4x-.
Wins in Senior events came in the Women’s 4x- in division 2 and Open 4x- in division 3.
Division 3 produced further victories for the Juniors in the WJ14 4x+, J15 2x, WJ17 2x and J18 4x-.
Results are available via EasyRegatta. SI Events has provided photos here.
Thanks go to Hexham for efficient organisation and splendid hospitality.
On Sunday, June 4th Durham ARC’s Senior Women went to Dorney Lake for the Metropolitan Regatta, an annual multi-lane competition for crews eligible for Club/Academic events at Henley Royal Regatta or Aspirational events at Henley Women’s Regatta (both consisting of 2-abreast river racing). Rachel Wilson, Shannon Grealis, Lucy Beresford and Emily Chaytor qualified from the time trial for the C Final of the Women’s Coxless Fours and finished 7th in 8.20.60 to take 23rd place overall in the combined Championship/Academic/Club competition.
The Race result is here and results of all races from Dorney Lake on Saturday and Sunday here.
Photos from Ben Rodford are here.
The second round of the Sunday League also took place on June 4th at Berwick. As yet DARC doesn’t have any participants in this year’s league but is welcome to provide a crew for subsequent rounds. The lead in the Women’s table is currently shared between Tyne ARC and Talkin Tarn, while the Open league is tied between Berwick, Tynemouth and Hexham. The next round is at Tynemouth on July 2nd.
Durham Regatta takes place over the weekend of June 10th and 11th, with the draw expected on Wednesday. The coming week also sees the draws released for the British Rowing Masters Championships at the Holme Pierrepont, also on June 10th/11th, and Henley Women’s Regatta on June 16th to 18th, no doubt followed closely by that for Henley Masters Regatta on July 7th/8th and the British Rowing Junior Championships at Strathclyde Park on July 14th to 16th.
Trials for the GB Beach Sprint Team come to Redcar on June 10th and 11th.
Henley Royal Regatta takes place between June 27th and July 2nd. With Tyne Regatta cancelled this year rowing competitions in the Northern Region conclude with Talkin Tarn Regatta on July 1st.
It has been questioned whether there are too many rowing competitions in the UK and whether better co-ordination between regions and nationally would be beneficial. It certainly deserves some consideration.