Now in its third year Derwentwater Head is rapidly becoming one of the must row heads in the British Rowing calendar.
Despite the rival attractions of the Yorkshire Head and Runcorn Head the event hosted by Lakeland Rowing Club on Saturday, March 7th drew a record 142 entries who came to enjoy the unrivalled scenic splendour of the English Lake District, Durham ARC providing 26 of them – the most of any of the 23 participating clubs, with Durham College Rowing providing a further 21.
The forecast of a south-easterly breeze dictated that the slightly shorter East course was used for a second year.
Safety briefing
With the Senior Women otherwise occupied entering the Women’s Eights Head of the River Race this year and unable to defend the title they won last year, it was left to the Masters, who were out in force racing six eights, seven quads and a double, and the Juniors who entered six quads and four doubles.
Competitors enjoyed glorious sunshine throughout the day, with those competing in the first of the 3 divisions in the morning getting the better of the conditions before the breeze freshened later in the day.
The DARC entries covered a broad rage of experience with the more seasoned racers being joined by crews having their first competitive outing.
Boating at Derwentwater Head
Division 1
Division 1 started with the more experienced Women’s Masters B eight coming home ahead of the Women’s Masters E eight by 33 seconds to win on handicap times in 11.09.7.
As one of 13 entries in their event the Open coxed four was drawn in band 3 against mainly college opposition and placed 4th in 12.02 3.
The MasH 4x- finished in 12.37.6 to take 2nd place to Tees I in a MasHI 4x handicap.
The WMasG 4x- was also runner-up to Tees by 33 seconds in 13.06.9.
DARC MasF 2x was second by 33 seconds to Windermere RC in 12 24 7.
Two Open J15 coxed quads and two J15 girls coxed quads raced in divisions 1 and 2, honours going to the division 1 girls by 43 seconds in 12.23.7 and to the division 2 boys by one and a half minutes in 10.09.9 – the fastest time of the day by any DARC crew.
The Women’s double was 4th to North Staffs/Tees RC in 13.06.2.
Two J16 girls doubles and a J18 girls double contested division 1, the WJ16s finishing 2nd and 3rd against Chester-le-Street in 11.57.6 and 12.10.0 respectively, while the WJ18 2x was victorious over Hexham by 13 seconds in 12.01.5.
MxdMasG 4x- setting off
Divisiom 2
Two more Masters eights raced in division 2 – a mixed composite crew featuring Durham and Tees RC rowing as Open Masters G 8+ and a Women’s Masters G eight. The WMasG 8+ took victory against Tees RC by 35 seconds, and the Open Durham/Tees 8+ finished 3rd in a MasCFG 8+ handicap, 20 seconds behind Durham MasF who rowed in division 3, and Tees MasF.
DARC MasF coxless quads entered in divisions 2 and 3 in a 4-boat race, the division 3 crew winning by 17 seconds in 11.10.9 and the division 2 crew taking second place against Sunderland and Hexham opposition.
The Mixed Masters G coxless quad took 3rd place in 13.21.9 in a 5-boat MxMasFG 4x- handicap race also involving three Windermere RC crews and one from Hexham RC.
DARC entered a Women’s MasC coxless quad in division 2 and a Women’s MasC coxed quad in division 3. The WMasC 4x- overcame Mersey Rowing Club MasB opposition in the WMasBC 4x- event, placing 3rd to a Tyne United WMasC crew in 13.53.8.
The J18 girls 4x- finished 2nd in a 4-boat race in 11.14.9, ahead of two Hexham quads but 36 seconds behind Chester-le-Street.
MasF 8+ at Derwentwater Head 2026
Division 3
The MasF 8+ won the MasCFG 8+ handicap, completing the course in 10.55.6, the second fastest time of the day by a DARC crew, with a handicap time of 9.53.0 placing them ahead of Tees RC F, Durham/Tees G and Durham C.
The MasC 8+ was 4th in the MasCFG 8+ in 11.04.9, the 4th fastest time by a DARC crew.
Without opposition the WMasC 4x+ recorded 13.01.6 rowing for time-only – a time that would have given them 2nd place in the WMasBC 4x-
Summary of wins
Wins for Durham ARC were achieved in eight events –
- J15 4x+ Tew
- WJ15 4x+ Liu-Hill
- WJ16 4x- Anderson
- WJ18 2x Williams
- WMasB 8+ Ashton
- MasF 8+ Matthews
- WMasG 8+ Heppell
- MasF 4x- Lyons
Another record saw this year’s overall best time of 9.08.4 by Trevelyan College Open 8+ beating last year’s best. It was a successful day for Trevelyan who also won the Women’s 8+ event in 10.32.5, a time that eclipsed that set last year by the victorious DARC Women’s 8+ by nearly half a minute.
All the results can be found on Oar-online here.
Photos of Durham ARC crews provided by Elliot Kay are available here.
Many thanks to Lakeland Rowing Club for a great event. After a most enjoyable day we are all looking forward to next year.