The winter season started in fine style on the River Tyne on January 20th at Tyne United New Years Head, which is hosted jointly with Durham University Boat Club.
Though the viability of the competition was in doubt for some time because of concerns about Storm Isha the decision to go ahead was vindicated, and despite the difficult conditions DARC was rewarded with 4 wins from 8 entries, in addition to 2nd and 3rd place finishes.
Unlike Rutherford Head TURC NYH is open to singles, doubles and pairs as well as fours, quads and eights. It tends to attract entries mainly from local clubs, though this year also included ones from York and Liverpool, while Durham and Newcastle Universities provided their usual strong opposition.
The blustery conditions did lead to several scratchings among the smaller boats which left some competitors without opposition. DARC did well in the singles events with Luke Davison winning band 2 of the J18 1x, being the fastest J18 sculler on the day as the band 1 entries all scratched.
Nick Baird won band 2 of the Open 1x, while the band 1 Open 1x race produced a close contest with Sam Terry and Jonny Cleugh taking 2nd and 3rd places behind Warren of Durham University.
Other wins came from the Women’s Masters B 4x- and from Michael Terry in a Durham/Hexham/Tyne composite MasE 8+.
The Women’s Masters C 2x found their opponents had scratched, and Tom Pfetscher and Finley Scott were 3rd against Newcastle and Durham Universities in the Open pair.
Results for Division 1 and Division 2 can be found on the TURC website.
The season ahead
A full winter programme continues with Durham Small Boats Head on February 3rd, Tyne Head on February 17th, Derwentwater Head on March 9th, and the Junior Inter Regional Trials on March 16th.
Other events include the Junior Head (North) at Runcorn on Sunday, January 28th, Durham College Rowing Novice Head on February 10th, and BUCS 4s and 8s Head on the Tyne on February 24th/25th,
Further afield the South Yorkshire Head at Doncaster is on February 10th, Nottingham Head of the Trent takes place on February 25th, and The Yorkshire Head is on March 2nd.
The Tideway Heads are also in March –
- Women’s Eights Head of the River Race – March 9th
- Schools Head – Wednesday, March 20th
- Head of the River Race – March 23rd
- Masters Head – March 24th
The Junior Sculling Head is at Dorney Lake on Friday, March 22nd, and Ponteland Junior Head takes place on the Tyne on March 23rd.
The season concludes with The Gemini Boat Races on March 30th.