Nine crews from Durham ARC took part in Rutherford Head on Saturday, November 29th, the final time trial of the year contested over 4.5km of the River Tyne with the course moved 500 metres downstream from its traditional setting.
Demand for places from competitors was as usual very high with entries suspended within 35 minutes of opening on October 26th.
293 eights, fours and quads from across England and Scotland were in the draw, including 21 from Newcastle University Boat Club, 17 from Durham University Boat Club, 41 from Durham College Boat Clubs and a record 18 from Leeds Rowing Club. DARC had 5 entries in division 1 in the morning and 4 in division 2 in the afternoon.
Division 1
The fastest DARC crew of the day was the J18 coxless quad who set the pace with 16.19.3 racing in division 1, putting them 3rd of the 8 crews assigned to band 1 of the J18 4x-, nine seconds behind winners George Watson’s College and one second adrift of the fastest of three Yarm School entries in the event, but 19 seconds ahead of Abingdon School in 4th place.
Rutherford Head has become a favourite of Abingdon School who this year sent nine crews north, the J18 4x- being their fastest in division 1 was followed home by an Open 4-, two J18 4+s, a J16 4x- and an Open 4+, while their three Open 8+s finished in the top 20 places in division 2.
DARC’s J16 4x- was one of 7 entries allocated to band 2 of their event, in which they headed one Leeds RC entry, Cambois and Lambton/Tyne United, but finished 3rd to another Leeds crew and Infinity/Tees RC in 18.48.5.
The Masters D 8+ included two members of the Explorers group who were making their first appearance in the competition, with the crew recording 19.37.7 to take third place behind Tyne ARC MasB and MasD eights in a MasBD 8+ handicap, the MasB crew achieving an impressive overall joint 4th place finish in 16.01.4.
DARC was represented in division 1 by two Women’s eights, the band 4 crew rowing for time-only in 19.19.8 and the Durham/Hexham composite in band 5 taking 3rd place of 9 entries in 19.38.5, forty seconds behind the band winners from Sheffield University.
Edinburgh University won band 1 of the Women’s 8+ in 16.00.8, Glasgow University won band 2, and Leeds Rowing Club band 3.
Controversy saw the fastest crew overall in division 1, a Durham University 4-, disqualified for violating local rules by taking the wrong arch at a bridge. A second Durham University crew consequently won the Open 4-, just behind Newcastle University’s winning Open 4+ which, as a result of the disqualification, became the fastest crew overall. Crews in both divisions received time penalties for late boating and various other infringements.
Division 2
Crews in division 2 experienced worsening weather conditions. A Durham University Open 8+ racing in band 1 in division 2 recorded the fastest time of the day with 14.18.9 despite incurring a 20 second penalty, as DUBC packed three 8+s into the top 5 places in division 2.
The only event win for Durham ARC went to the MasE coxless quad who celebrated their crew of the year award by seeing off opposition from Tyne ARC, Tyne United, Talkin Tarn and Sunderland to take victory in a MasEF 4x- handicap race in a time of 21.36.5.
Boating a WMasB eight in a WMasB-F 8+ handicap gave the DARC Masters Women work to do against older opposition as they finished 4th to the Tyne ARC WMasC eight in 21.18.1.
The WJ18 4x- racing in band 1 finished in 22.02.0, and the Durham/Tees/Tynemouth composite Women’s 4x- placed 4th in band 2 in 20.54.3.
Summary of results for DARC entries
Division 1
- J18 4x- band 1 Lawlor 16.19.3 – 3rd (10th overall)
- J16 4x- band 2 Tew 18.48.5 – 3rd (75th overall)
- Women’s 8+ band 4 Wilson 19.19.8 (time only)
- MasD 8+ Gordon 19.37.7 – 3rd in MasB-D 8+ (92nd overall)
- Women’s 8+ band 5 Durham/Hexham Belsey 19.38.5 – 3rd (93rd overall)
Division 2
- Women’s 4x- band 2 Durham/Tees/Tynemouth Freeman 20.54.3 – 4th (84th overall)
- WMasB 8+ Terry 21.18.1 – 4th in WMasB-F 8+ (91st overall)
- MasE 4x- Robinson 21.36.5 – 1st in MasEF 4x- (101st overall)
- WJ18 4x- band 1 Maddison 22.02.0 – 8th (106th overall)
Full results are on Oar-online
Crew photos from AllMarkOne are available here.
To satisfy increasing demand consideration is being given by organisers to extending the competition to a second day in future years.
Competitors have another opportunity to satisfy their appetite for racing on the Tyne when entries open today for Tyne United New Years Head which will be staged on January 24th 2026.