The 2024 Long Distance Sculling Series has visited three more northern rivers in as many weeks, at Tyne LDS and Tyne United (TURC) Small Boats Head (SBH) on October 12th, Wansbeck LDS and SBH on October 19th and South Hylton LDS on October 26th.
Four of the six rounds in the series are complemented by an SBH which allows for sweep rowing (one oar per rower) in addition to scullng (two oars each).
Happily all scheduled events have been completed without weather intervention, although conditions on the Tyne were breezy and the river level fell sufficiently for Wansbeck to go ahead just in time before the arrival of Storm Ashley, allowing the new pontoon at Cambois to be brought into use successfully.
Unfortunately competitions scheduled to take place in other parts of the country have been subjected to multiple cancellations.
Nick Baird in Open 1x at South Hylton
The Series includes a Victor Ludorum award that allows competitors who want to enter multipe rounds to score points for their club towards an overall total, but many prefer to be more selective with their entries. The latter appears to have been the more popular choice this year, meaning entry numbers have been lower than usual. Most squads have been represented at some stage but Open single sculler Nick Baird is the only entry to have contested every LDS and SBH (apart from the first round at Berwick), and unsurprisingly has enjoyed most success, winning in 4 events.
Tyne LDS and Tyne United SBH
The Tyne double header took place over 4500 metres between Scotswood and Newburn. Both competitions had an entry of 138 which was swelled by Durham University Boat Club taking part for the first time in the series.
The Senior Women were well represented and there was a win in band 2 of the Women’s coxed four at TURC SBH but the quad returned empty handed from the LDS despite a strong performance.
MasE 4x- at South Hylton
The MasG 2x combination of Richard Court and Andy Jaggard won against John Appleby’s Durham/Tyne MasI 2x composite in a MasGI 2x handicap. Other victories at Tyne LDS went to the WJ18 4x-, WJ14 4x+, and Michael Terry in the MasD 1x.
Michael achieved his second victory of the day with a Durham/Hexham/Tyne ARC composite MasE 4x- at TURC SBH.
Results from Tyne LDS are here and from Tyne United SBH here.
Photos from Elliot Kay are available here.
Wansbeck LDS and SBH
Wansbeck LDS and SBH attracted 176 entries and took place over a shortened course of under 2km, with entries for each competition split into two divisions (quads/fours in division 1 and doubles/pairs/singles in division 2) In an attempt to speed up the time taken for boating which had been a criticism in previous years.
Richard Court and Andy Jaggard in MasG 2x at South Hylton
At Wansbeck LDS Andy Jaggard won the MasH single sculls, and Rachel Terry in a WMasD 1x won the WMasDGH 1x handicap in which Gill Gilbert was 3rd in a WMasH 1x.
Other LDS wins went to the J14 4x+ Auyeung and WJ15 4x+ Mitchell.
Amelie Jones was 4th in WJ16 1x, and Aidan Lawlor missed out on victory in a large field of 7 in the J15 1x by a tenth of a second.
The MasE 4x- and Women’s MasE 4x- made their first appearances of the series at Wansbeck LDS, placing 2nd and 3rd in their events.
Rachel Terry in WMasD 1x at South Hylton
Nick Baird achieved a double success of being the fastest single sculler in both LDS and SBH competitions.
In the SBH the WMasC 2x and WMasE 2x were second and third against Hexham (B) in a WMasBCE 2x handicap, and the WJ15 2x was 3rd.
Results from Wansbeck LDS are here and from Wansbeck SBH here.
South Hylton LDS
South Hylton LDS was a stand alone competition without an associated SBH, the entry of 46 racing in fine conditions downstream over a course of 4750 metres of the River Wear between Cox Green and the City of Sunderland Rowing Club.
Durham ARC had 5 entries. The Masters E 4x- crew of Gary McCarthy, Dave Murray, George Peattie and Peter Robinson was taking part for the second time in the series, this time outpacing a Cambois MasC quad in a MasCDE 4x- handicap race but finishing 2nd on adjusted times against a Berwick ARC MasD quad.
Quinn Mosley was returning to competition following his J15 gold medal at the British Rowing Championships in the summer and produced an excellent scull in the J16 1x to record the 4th fastest time overall and take the accolade of fastest Open single sculler of the day.
Quinn Mosley in J16 1x at South Hylton
There was a second win of the Series for Richard Court and Andy Jaggard in the MasG 2x, and a second success for Rachel Terry in the WMasD 1x who won against Sophie Milburn of Tyne United in a WMasCD 1x handicap.
A win in the Open 1x gives Nick Baird two LDS and two SBH victories to date with one round remaining.
South Hylton LDS results are here.
Photos by SI Events are available here.
Durham LDS and ASBH
We look forward to hosting Durham LDS and Durham Autumn Small Boats Head on Saturday, November 2nd. Start orders should be available by Tuesday.
Storm Ashley has left its mark by depositing debris at Elvet Bridge in an untimely manner shortly before the double header.
Elvet Bridge after Storm Ashley