Wansbeck Long Distance Sculling (LDS) and Wansbeck Small Boats Head (SBH) on October 25th became the second weather casualty of the 2025 Long Distance Sculling Series when the double header was called off on Thursday because of the approach of Storm Benjamin and forecast strong winds for Saturday.
Tyne LDS and Tyne United SBH on October 4th were also cancelled.
Rounds 3 and 4 at Tees and Berwick had better fortune and went ahead in good conditions. Each offer the longest course and are raced over 5000 metres,
Tees LDS and SBH – October 11th
The Tees competitions on October 11th were able to accommodate the largest entry of the series, with 199 entries for the LDS and 164 for the SBH. The SBH makes provision for sweep-oar rowing as well as sculling, whereas the LDS includes sculling only.
Durham ARC had 12 entries in Tees LDS and 8 in Tees SBH. The LDS produced wins in two events, the J18 girls double and Women’s Masters F quad sculls, who completed the bendy course in 21.20.5 and 21.24.7 respectively.
The J15 boys coxed quad was the fastest DARC crew in the LDS with 20.11.5 to take 2nd place in their event. Also well placed were the J17 girls 4x- finishing 2nd in 20.21.9.
Other Tees LDS times were –
- Open 1x band 1 Nick Baird 21.41.6 – 4th in Open 1x band 1
- MasE 1x Michael Terry 22.04 1 – 2nd in MasADE 1x
- WMasC 2x Jenny Conroy and Aisling Dutton 22.04.5 – 2nd in WMasCE 2x
- MxMasH 4x- Edwards 23.20.0 – 2nd in MxMasEH 4x-
- MasG 4x- Carter 23.42.0 – 4th in MasCFGI 4x-
- WMasD 1x Rachel Terry 24.07.6 – 2nd in WMasCDEF 1x
- WJ16 2x Curry 24.14.6 – 4th in WJ16 2x
- WJ16 1x Mitchell 24.14.6 – 3rd in WJ16 1x
WJ17 4x at Tees LDS 2025
There was a win in Tees SBH in the Open 1x for Nick Baird who completed the course in 20.55.3 which although not as quick as the J16 1x winner was almost a minute faster than his winning time in the corresponding event last year.
The fastest time for a DARC crew in Tees SBH was 19.14.1 coming from the DARC/Durham School composite J16 4x- which gave then 2nd place in band 1 of the J16 4x-. The WJ18 4x- also took 2nd place in their event in 20.20.6, marginally faster than the J17 girls in the morning LDS.
Other times in Tees SBH were –
- W 4x- Belsey 21.30.9 (time only)
- MasF 4+ Gordon 22.23.1 – 3rd in MasDF 4+
- WJ15 4x+ band 1 Hollowbread 22.24.7 – 2nd in WJ15 4x+ band 1
- Open 2- Wrack 25.11.9 – 2nd in Open 2-
- WMasH 2x Ganatra 26.34.6 – 2nd in WMasFH 2x
WMasF 4x- at Tees LDS
Tees LDS/SBH photos are available from Max Maddox Photography.
Berwick LDS – October 18th
Berwick LDS on October 18th was a standalone competition with 66 entries, starting at 1pm to coincide with the high tide on the Tweed, DARC providing 5 entries.
An exciting race didn’t produce any wins but margins were very close with four 2nd and one 3rd places, three of whom missed out on victory by less than 5 seconds.
Berwick LDS times and results were as follows –
- Michael Terry in the Durham/Hexham/Tyne composite MasD 4x- was 2nd fastest overall in 20.04.7, headed only by QEHS J17 4x- and was 2nd by 4.2s to Tees MasI 4x- in a MasDFI 4x handicap race
- MasE 4x- Gary McCarthy 23.35.3 was 2nd to Berwick ARC in MasE 4x-
- WMasF 4x- Clare Woodward 25.58.9 was 3rd to TURC WMasE in a WMasEFG 4x handicap
- Open 1x Nick Baird 22.47.3 was 2nd in Open 1x to Cambois RC by 4.5s
- WMasD 1x Rachel Terry 26.59.1 was 2nd to Castle Semple by 4.4s in a WMasDEI 1x handicap
Full results are available below-
Information about the Long Distance Sculling Series is available here.
Well done to all those taking part and many thanks to the organizers and volunteers.
The final round sees Durham ARC host Durham LDS and Autumm Small Boats Head over the 1800 metre course on the River Wear on Saturday, November 8th. Capacity has been reached and entries are now suspended for both competitions, as are those for York SBH on Sunday, November 23rd.
Entries for Rutherford Head on November 29th open on Sunday.