Two Junior scullers from Durham ARC represented the club at the 2024 National Schools Regatta (NSR) at Dorney Lake over the weekend of May 24th to 26th and did the club proud by producing excellent performances to both reach the A final of the Championship single sculls.
The NSR has become a mainstay of the Junior rowing calendar and competition for its prestigious cups is fierce. The range of age and ability offers racing to the very experienced and to those who are only just beginning their rowing journey.
The 3-day regatta got underway with J14 events on Friday along with some J15 races. J15 events concluded on Saturday, which also saw the start of the 2-day J16 and Championship events. J16 and Championship races reached their conclusion with finals on Sunday.
Rule changes in recent years and the need for different age groups to race on different days have made it more challenging to enter multiple events but it was pleasing to see the club taking its place again on the start line for what has in the past been a very lucrative competition.
Will Terry of the J17 age group and Jonny Cleugh of the J16 group contested the Sculls Cup by entering the Championship single sculls event, pitting them against some of the best and most experienced junior scullers from across the UK and Ireland, many being of the J18 age group.
Fifty-six competitors were drawn to start the Ch 1x time trial over 1900 metres on Saturday morning with Will Terry recording the 8th fastest time of 7.17.83 to gain automatic qualification for the A/B semi-finals on Sunday. Jonny Cleugh was 10th fastest in 7.18.93 and was one of 32 scullers to go forward to the repechage, consisting of 4 side by side races in 8 lanes over 2000 metres on Saturday afternoon. Second place in repechage 3 at 1.20pm in 8.16.97 also qualified him for the A/B semi-finals on Sunday, along with 2 competitors from each of the 3 other repechages, other competitors being assigned to either C/D semi-finals or E, F and G finals.
On Sunday all 8 lanes were used for semi-finals and finals. The draw put Will and Jonny in different semi-finals of the same event. Jonny securing 3rd place in a time of 7.41.45 in SF1 at 11.50am, and Will taking 4th place in SF2 in 7.47.40 at 11.55am.
With 4 qualifying for the A final from each semi-final both went forward to the Ch 1x A final at 17.35, the 5th to 8th placed competitors in each semi contesting the B final at 17.30.
With a change of wind direction meaning lane orders being redrawn for some races Will was drawn in lane 1 and Jonny in lane 3 for the final. The stronger athletes however took the accolades with a 7th place for Will in 7.36.01 and 8th for Jonny in 7.42.91, victory going to Elliott Donovan-Davies of Hartpury University & College Boat Club in 7.08.33. Jack Rafferty of St Michael’s RC, Limerick was 2nd in a close finish, the other places going to Max Fullman of Wycliffe College, Ben Mead of Cambridge 99 RC, Ezra Ferguson of George Watson’s College and Sam Furley of Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School.
Much dedication led to a very satisfying outcome.
Results for the event are available from Time Team here and for all races over the weekend here.
Video footage can also be found with each race result, including Ch 1x A/B semi finals 1 and 2 from 4 hrs 04 mins and A final from 9 hrs 56 mins.
Photos by AllMarkOne are at https://www.allmarkstore.co.uk/f20424222
The Senior Women will be at Dorney Lake for the Metropolitan Regatta next weekend and have been drawn to start in the Women’s 4x- time trial at 9.28am on Sunday with finals scheduled for later the same day. The draw and competitor instructions are here.