Recs go to War (of the Roses)

Recs go to War (of the Roses)

Bradford ARC hosts an annual invitation scratch regatta known as the War of the Roses which sees veteran rowers of all standards from across the north of England converging on Bradford’s Victorian clubhouse in its picturesque setting on the River Aire at Saltaire. This year’s event was held on Saturday April 26th and, as a[…]

Durham Regatta Grants for Local Rowing

Durham Regatta Grants for Local Rowing

Durham Regatta have agreed to make available a pool of funds of £7500 per year, for at least the two year period commencing 1 January 2014. This amount will be used to fund grants of up to £1,000 to organisations involved in the development and promotion of the sport of rowing on the River Wear[…]

DARC Profile – Jacki Patrickson

DARC Profile – Jacki Patrickson

Jacki Patrickson is DARC’s coaching co-ordinator. A civil engineer and mother of two, her first job as a graduate, was spent building roads and bridges around Durham (I have it on good authority that she is particularly fond of culverts). Four years ago she moved back to Durham and started working freelance, providing interim management,[…]

Another world record for inspirational Gill

Another world record for inspirational Gill

2014 looks set to be another golden year for DARC super rower, Gill Prescott. Gill, who recently won the North East Sporting Inspiration of the Year Award 2013, broke her own world record for the 55-59 age group at the English Indoor Rowing Championships in Manchester on 3rd March. Gill took 1/10th of a second[…]

Durham Small Boats Head Cancelled

Durham Small Boats Head Cancelled

Durham SBH has been cancelled and will not be rescheduled again. Current conditions and the forecast are poor and an early decision is better for everyone. Still some time to get your entries into Tyne next week and hopefully the University Hayward cup will go ahead on Saturday in Stockton if you want to watch[…]

The Great Gym Clean

The Great Gym Clean

The Rec rowers did a magnificant job yesterday, Monday 10th Feb, to give the gym a deep clean, and the Junior section pitched in to put all the equipment back in place, before their training session. Twenty plus rec rowers spent over two hours on the cleaning make-over with their characteristic enthusiasm. Virtually all the[…]

Sarah warns of Killer Shrimp

Sarah warns of Killer Shrimp

Talking to DARC profiler, Sarah Wheater, I took the opportunity to find out about the CHECK-CLEAN-DRY campaign. Andy: Sarah, it sounds like a dry cleaning company, what’s it all about? Sarah: It’s actually about stopping the spread of alien species Kind permission of The Environment Agency Andy: I’m guessing you’re not talking about rowers from[…]

DARC Profile – Sarah Wheater

DARC Profile – Sarah Wheater

Sarah Wheater is an environmental scientist and novice rower. Originally from South Yorkshire, she moved to Durham in September 2012.  How did you get into rowing? Through the sports and social club at work. I had a friend in Warrington who was helping organise a Learn to Row course and they needed an extra body[…]

Rec rowers raise two-and-a-half grand

Rec rowers raise two-and-a-half grand

It’s like one of those maths problems. How many cups of coffee does it take at 50p a cup (less cost of the makings, not forgetting the biscuits) to raise £2500 in a year. Answer … A lot. The rec rowers have just handed over this money,  as their contribution to club funds,  from both[…]

Juniors raise £600 at bag pack!

Juniors raise £600 at bag pack!

The juniors spent 3 hours bag packing at Sainsbury’s at Pity Me on the night of 30th December – a fairly quiet night as shopping numbers go, but the  amount raised was a whopping £601.54. The junior Christmas Breakfast raised £76 The junior Christmas fayre raised £570  for the Phillipine Disaster Appeal ( increased to £1070 on[…]

Gill named Outstanding Performer of the Year

Gill named Outstanding Performer of the Year

It’s been another award-winning week for the unstoppable Gill Prescott. On Thursday 5th December she won the Northern Echo Local Heroes Award for Outstanding Performance of the Year, after winning the Durham Regional Award. Two days later, she followed this with  a Championship Record breaking performance at the British Indoor Rowing Championships in Cardiff on the 7thDecember.[…]

Roly Metcalfe

I am sorry to have to inform you that Roly Metcalfe, a long standing member of DARC, passed away peacefully on Friday, after a short illness. Roly was a member of DARC for many years, indeed he was one of the Vets who introduced me to rowing over 20 years ago, coxing his crew at[…]

Real Veterans Day Out

Real Veterans Day Out

Mick Downworth, of the Mens Development Squad, is an outreach worker for forces Veterans and their families in Gateshead. So, last thursday 28th November, Mick had arranged a day out, at the club, for this ‘Gateshead Veterans Hub’. Some of the veterans had suffered injuries and disabilities and have served in places such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo,[…]

DARC Members Survey Results

DARC Members Survey Results

The full report of the DARC SATISFACTION SURVEY – Report and Plans for Action is out today. Over two thirds of the 117 respondents rated their satisfaction with their membership of DARC, as ‘Excellent’ or ‘Very Good’. There were many positives about the facilities, about the general friendliness of members, and for the excellent coaching,[…]

The Launch of the Jessica Eddie

The Launch of the Jessica Eddie

Durham rowing Olympian, Jess Eddie, visited the club on the 6th October to launch our newest racing boat, the “Jessica Eddie”, a lightweight Eight named in her honour. Jess, who attended St.Leonard’s School in Durham and learned to row on the River Wear at age 8, joined Durham ARC as a teenager before being picked[…]

Carol at British Para Rowing Camp 2013

Carol at British Para Rowing Camp 2013

Carol participated in the British Para Rowing Camp 2013, held at the London Regatta Centre on Royal Albert Dock. last week-end. Carol, the first Para rower in D.A.R.C. has been classified as LTA VI (legs, trunks and arms – visually impaired) by British Rowing classifiers. Carol suffered a traumatic brain head injury in a car[…]

World Masters in Varese

World Masters in Varese

Wins for ‘E’ eight and ‘F’ four, “Apple-boy” bags four golds, but Gill claims five … whilst the WAGS lunch and shop Milano Seventeen DARC oarsmen and oarswomen travelled to Varese in Northern Italy for the World Masters Rowing Chamionships. Over 600 races spread over 4 days with competitors from 28 year olds to 85 year olds from all[…]

Famous Five Conquer the Tyne … Dynasaurs have a “great day out” … and a dog completes the Row ahead of Three men in a boat.

Famous Five Conquer the Tyne … Dynasaurs have a “great day out” … and a dog completes the Row ahead of Three men in a boat.

.. Durham women victorious despite ‘scran’ drug test After a successful season, moving from ‘Explore’ and the Sunday League into mainstream regattas, Durham Women “Optimists” Gabrielle, Clare, June, Susan and Helen entered the Great Tyne Row (now in its 3rd year) – 25 gruelling kilometres from Newburn to Tynemouth. The race has to be completed[…]