York Small Boats Head

York Small Boats Head took place on Sunday, November 17^th. For once the head which fills the gap between the end of the Long Distance Sculling Series and Rutherford Head met with a spell of settled weather and was able to go ahead on the scheduled date. In recent years the River Ouse has been very susceptible to flooding at this time of year. Last year’s race was postponed until January 2024 by which time the few entries from DARC had scratched. A similar fate and subsequent cancellation befell the event in the previous year. Before that pandemic restrictions, inclement weather and limited interest have meant that the last time a sizeable entry from DARC went to York was the 8 entries who attended in 2017.

The autumnal setting for the 3000 metre time trial rowed upstream through the centre of York make it an attractive proposition for many, and this year saw entries suspended around 4 weeks before the official closing date.

The 246 competing crews, including 10 from Durham ARC, arrived at York on the designated day in bright sunshine with temperatures falling and the river at its normal level, allowing the first of the two divisions to get underway at 10.15am.

A good day of racing ensued with the entry coming chiefly from the Yorkshire region but also including competitors from the Durham Colleges, Hexham, Tees, Chester-le-Street, Warrington, City of Cambridge and Nottingham.

Live results are available here.

Times from the morning and afternoon (2.10pm) divisions have been combined to determine the outcome of each event

Strong performances included the Women’s coxless quad overcoming one Leeds University crew but being outpaced by another to take 2nd place in a time of 12.57.4.

The J18 girls coxless quad was involved in a close race, going down to Yarm School and Leeds Rowing Club but beating York City to finish 4th in 12.29.1.

Nick Baird continued his ever present record in the Open single sculls and improved on his division 1 time by 12 seconds in the afternoon to take 4th place in band 1 in 13.32.1 behind Cambridge City, York City and Leeds University.

Two more Junior crews finished 2nd with Yarm School featuring strongly among the opposition, the J15 girls coxed quad being faster with 13.18.9 in division 1, while the Open J14 coxed quad recorded 13.26.4 also in the first division (1 second behind Leeds RC who were in division 2).

In divison 2 there was a 4th place in band 2 for the Women’s coxed four in 15.02.8.

Three victories for DARC were achieved, two by crews competing in the first division, the band 2 Women’s double finishing fastest of 4 entries with a time of 14.07.1, and the Women’s coxed quad beating York City in 14.21.1. The WJ14 coxed quad competing in division 2 won their event in a time of 14.40.1.

Summary of results –

Div 1

• Women’s 4x- band 1 Golightly 12.57.4 – 2nd (of 5)
• WJ18 4x- Foster 12.29.1 – 4th (of 5)
• Open 1x band 1 Baird 13.44.2 – 6th (of 8)
• Women’s 2x band 2 Beresford 14.07.1 – 1st (of 4)
• Women’s 4x+ Wilson 14.21.1 – 1st (of 2)
• J14 4x+ Hancill 13.26.4 – 2nd (of 6)
• WJ15 4x+ Terry 13.18.9 – 2nd (of 8)

Div 2

• Open 1x band 1 Baird 13.32.1 – 4th (of 8)
• Women’s 4+ band 2 Reavley 15.02.8 – 4th (of 5)
• WJ14 4x+ Wilks 14.40.1 – 1st (of 5)

SI Events has provided photographs here.

Levels of interest in head racing can be very unpredictable, with some competitions getting very few entries while others are hugely oversubscribed. The choice of date and likelihood of clashes with other competitions can be a factor. York Autumn Head was scheduled for October 12^th but had to be cancelled because of lack of entries. Rowed over a longer course of 4500 metres on the same river but in the reverse direction it has struggled for appeal despite expanding in recent years from a sculling-only event to also encompass sweep-oar rowing, and has moved to a later date but still to no avail.

By contrast the Pairs Head which was contested in challenging conditions on the River Thames on the same date was overwhelmed with entries to the extent that organizers had to reject 150 crews to ensure a safe event while maintaining an even split between Junior, Senior and Masters entries.

Single scullers hoping to take part in the Vesta Scullers Head on the Thames on September 14^th were left disappointed by its cancellation when the required river closure for the duration of the event could not be secured.

Entries for The Fours Head over the Championship course on the Thames on November 24^th, have closed with an astonishing 695 having been received for the 465 available places, and consequently 230 crews have had to be rejected. The autumn Tideway heads generally attract crews aiming for the winter Eights heads in the New Year, with the desire for eights to divide into fours offering a possible explanation for the appeal. Various methods of processing entries have been tried over the years but difficulties persist.

Entries for the Veteran Fours Head on the Tideway on November 23^rd have also closed with a full entry of 260 which includes DARC’s only entry in any of the autumn heads on the Tideway, in a composite Masters E 4x- with Hexham and Tyne ARC.

Entries have been suspended for Rutherford Head which takes place over 4.5km on the River Tyne on November 30^th. Before then the Durham College Rowing Novice Cup takes place on the Wear over the weekend of November 23^rd and 24^th.