The 192nd Durham Regatta

The 192^nd Durham Regatta went ahead on June 14^th and 15^th in mainly bright conditions but with at times a stiff headwind. Competitors and spectators had to endure some squally showers on Saturday afternoon.

Entries were accepted from just over 500 crews for the two days of racing, a reduction of around 10% on last year partly due to the extra time allowed for marshalling of crews returning to the start in the shallow water and narrower racing channel.

Those who took part enjoyed an exciting two days of racing despite some lost fins and the unusual sight of crews disembarking via the riverbed rather than the landing stage being a common occurrence.

Durham ARC had 12 entries on Saturday and 17 on Sunday including composites, some crews opting instead to attend the British Rowing Masters Championships at Nottingham which again fell on the same weekend.

Victories were achieved in the following events –

Saturday

• Open Elite B 4+
• Open J14 4x+ DARC/Hadrian BC
• Women’s J15 4x+
• Women’s J14 4x+

Sunday

• Open MasE 4x- DARC/Hexham/Tyne ARC
• Open J13 4x+
• Open J14 4x+

Saturday – division 1

The Senior Men’s crew of John Roxborough, Darren Smith, James Gibson, Ollie Negus and cox Stef Lavelle got the day off to a good start with quarter-final and semi-final wins against Grey College and Tyne ARC followed by victory over Collingwood College in the final of the Open Elite B coxed four.

The Women’s Intermediate coxed four overcame St Cuthbert’s in the quarter final before losing to Queen Elizabeth High School in the semi.

Iris Mitchell won against Durham School and Cambois RC in the J15 girls single sculls before losing to Beau Gritton of Chester-le-Street ARC in the final.

The DARC/Durham School J15 2x won against Doncaster Schools but went out to Yarm School in the semi-final.

The DARC/Durham School/Hexham J15 4x+ lost narrowly to Lambton RC in the semi-final.

The Women’s Elite 8+ lost narrowly to Collingwood College in the semi-final.

The second win of the day went to the DARC/Hadrian BC J14 4x+ who won easily against St Leonard’s School in the semi-final and overcame Yarm School by 2 lengths in the final to take the Vaux Trophy.

Saturday – division 2

DARC/Hinksey Sculling School lost by 2 lengths against Northumbria University in the quarter-final of the Open Elite 2x.

The DARC/Lambton RC WJ14 2x won against St Peter’s School, York but lost their semi-final against Tees RC.

Izzy Maddison lost narrowly against Tees RC in the final of the WJ16 single sculls.

The WJ18 2x beat Tees RC in the semi-final but were beaten by Yarm School in the final.

The last few races on Saturday night brought two more successes, the J15 girls coxed quad overcoming Tyne ARC and Yarm School, and the J14 girls coxed quad holding off St Peter’s in the semi-final before winning easily in the final also against Yarm School.

Sunday – division 1

The Women’s Junior Championship 4x- lost on the long course in the semi-final against Hexham.

The Senior Women won the quarter-final of the Women’s non-Championship A 8+ against Hatfield College before going out by a length in the semi-final against Newcastle University BC.

Only one designated event for Masters took place over the weekend, in which the MasH 4x- won against Tyne ARC MasE in the semi-final of the MasEH 4x handicap before losing in the final to the DARC/Hexham/Tyne ARC MasE composite who were returning from winning a silver medal at the National Masters Championships the previous day. Victory at Durham gave them the Wardman Yates Trophy

The Open Championship coxless four overcame Tyne ARC on the long course in the semi-final but lost against Tyne United in the final.

DARC entered two WJ14 4x+ crews, one losing to Berwick/Lambton in the semi-final while the other beat St Leonard’s easily in their semi-final only to lose against the same Berwick/Lambton composite in the final.

Sunday – division 2

The Women’s non-Championship A 4+ lost in the quarter-final against St Cuthbert’s.

Patrick Lakey won the quarter-final of the non-Championship single sculls against Northumbria University but went out by a length in the semi against Broxbourne RC.

The J15 girls octuple won against a Chester-le-Street/Durham School composite in the semi-final but lost against Berwick/Lambton in the final.

There was success by a narrow margin for the J13 boys coxed quad who won the semi-final against Lambton by 3 lengths followed by the closest race of the day winning the final against Cambois RC by 1 foot to secure the John A Short Trophy.

The Masters E eight entered the non-Championship B 8+ event and had an easy win in the semi-final against Leeds University who had steering issues, before losing to Sheffield University in the final.

The day rounded off with another win, for the J14 coxed quad who won easily against Tyne United to take the Lillian Humphries Trophy.

In the Championship events on Sunday Durham University and Newcastle University Boat Clubs each entered 3 crews for the Open Championship 8+ and one each for the Women’s Championship 8+, with Durham winning both Open and Women’s events.

In the long course races Durham University won the Women’s Championship coxed four to take the Cyril Carpenter Trophy and Newcastle University won the Open Championship coxed four to secure the prestigious Grand Challenge Cup.

Results of all races in race order are available here for Saturday and Sunday.

Event winners with sponsor and trophy are listed here for Saturday and Sunday.

PalTV again provided a live broadcast of both days of the Regatta which is available to watch for free on YouTube – Saturday and Sunday.

The prizegiving ceremony was held for a second year in the marquee at Durham ARC on Sunday evening. Photos of  prize winners are available here.

We are most grateful to the volunteers whose efforts make it possible for the competition to take place.