On March 8th around 80 members and supporters from Durham ARC made the trip to Keswick in the Lake District to join 300 participants from the North of England and Scotland taking part in the second Derwentwater Head of the modern era.
Tracing its origins back to the 1870s when competitors travelled from London by train and carried their boats through the town to the lake the head was revived only recently and was added to the British Rowing calendar in 2023. Entry numbers increased for the 2024 event but it was cancelled because of the forecast wind strength.
In the rowing world there can be few if any settings to rival Derwentwater in the sunshine, and a fabulous day was enjoyed by all as three divisions of competition unfolded in scenic splendour, the DARC contingent racing in 4 eights, 6 coxless quads, 2 coxed quads, and coxed and coxless fours. An easterly breeze dictated that the 78 entries in attendance would contest the time trial over a shorter but less exposed east coast route of just over 2500 metres, rather than the 3000-metre west coast route used in 2023. The breeze created a challenge at times to add to that of navigating between distant buoys.
There were wins for DARC in 6 events – Women’s 8+, Women’s 4x-, Women’s 4+, WJ18 4x-, Women’s Masters F 4x- and Mixed Masters G 8+, while the J15 4x+ although without direct opposition was awarded the accolade of fastest Junior 4x+. The competition obviously appealed to the older generation with over 70% of entries coming in Masters events.
Derwentwater Head 2025
Appropriately on International Women’s Day DARC was represented by two Women’s eights, the Women’s Masters 8+ being without opposition contested the Women’s 8+ event and found themselves up against the DARC Senior Women, who ran out winners in a time of 11.00.7 set in division 1, with the Masters Women finishing 2nd with 11.34.3 in division 2, both finishing ahead of John Snow College from Durham who were 3rd. Women’s eights were in short supply at Derwentwater this year due to the Women’s Eights Head in London taking place on the same day.
Also in division 1 there were victories for the Women’s coxless quad who beat Lancaster John O’Gaunt in 11.16.1, and for the Women’s MasF coxless quad of June Davison, Heather Kelly, Julie Wilmore and Carole McCarthy who beat Hexham in 13.13.7.
The MasE 4x- of Gary McCarthy, Dave Murray, George Peattie and Peter Robinson set a time of 11.38.1 but were pushed into 2nd place by Talkin Tarn.
The J18 girls 4x- of Izzy Maddison, Olivia Tute, Sophie Hancill and Charlotte Foster completed the course in the fastest time of of the day by a women’s crew, recording 10.39.4 in division 2 to take victory ahead of the second DARC WJ18 4x.
Derwentwater Head 2025
The Women’s coxed four had a convincing win in division 2 in a time of 12.12.7 against St Aidan’s College and Bradford.
The Mixed Mas G 8+ of Heather Hirst, Helen Adair, Julie Kitson, Tim Morris, George Adair, Mick Seed, John Lund, Angela Lund + cox Nigel van Zwanenberg posted a time of 11.33.1 in division 2 which gave them victory over Bradford who raced in division 3.
The Masters F 8+ set a time of 10.25.9 in division 2 only to see it beaten in division 3 by the Black Sheep RC MasD 8+ from Harrogate who set the fastest time of the day with 9.20.0. The St Hild & St Bede Open 8+ held off University College by 3 seconds to win the Open 8+ event in 9.45.4.
The J15 boys 4x+ was unopposed in 11.06.2.
The MasH 4x- of Colin Lawson, Ian Tidmarsh, John Carter and Dave Green was 3rd to Tees RC in 12.12.3.
In division 3 the Mixed Masters D 4x+ of Gillian Gilbert, Kira Larno-Bayne, Gary Walker, Paolo Fortis and cox Nigel van Zwanenberg was unopposed in a time of 12.52.9, and the MasD 4- had an equipment issue and did not finish.
The head also catered for Lite Boats, with events being supported by Black Sheep, Tay Rowing Club and London Youth Rowing in doubles and singles.
Summary of event wins –
- WJ18 4x- Tute
- Women’s 8+ Muskett
- Women’s 4x- Foster
- MxMasG 8+ Lund
- Women’s 4+ Burns
- WMasF 4x- Davison
- J15 4x+ Hancill (Fastest Junior 4x+)
Derwentwater Head 2025
Full results are available here.
Photos can be found on the Lakeland website and more are available from SI Events here and from Elliot Kay here.
We are grateful to Lakeland Rowing Club for hosting the event and to all the volunteers, officials, safety crews and everyone else who contributed to making it such a safe and enjoyable day.
Similar conditions next year are welcome.