The division of the Thames region into six teams made this year’s Junior Inter Regional Regatta (JIRR) the largest ever, with 16 teams of J14 to J16 Juniors from across the UK competing for honours on the 6-lane course at the National Watersports Centre in Nottingham on Saturday, April 25th.
The Northern team drawn from13 different clubs was selected following trials at Cambois Rowing Club in March and included 28 entries contesting 26 events.
Durham ARC contributed three crews to the team on the one occasion in the annual racing calendar when rowers represent their region as opposed to their club. All performed exceedingly well and reached A and B finals.
JIRR 2026 regions
The schedule included time trials over 1000 metres for each event to determine the line-up for finals over 1500 metres later in the day.
First in action for DARC was the J15 boys coxed quad (Sam Hancill, Luigi Fortis, William Tew, Hunor Pinter and cox Scarlett Nicholson) who were 3rd in their time trial in 3.37.4 which took them into the A final in which they placed 5th in 5.30.9.
Next to go was Aidan Lawlor in the J16 single scull who performed brilliantly to take first place in the time trial in 3.52.7 to qualify for the A final in which he led all the way to take victory by a second in 5.45.9, winning gold for the Northern team. Aidan, who is coached by Martin Tyler, was presented with his medal by Jess Eddie.
The J16 girls coxless quad (Gem Anderson, Elizabeth Belsey, Iris Mitchell and Livvy Terry) was last to take to the water, recording the 11th fastest time of 3.49.0 in the time trial which put them into the B final in which they took 5th place for 11th position overall.
Full results can be found here. Crew photos by Allmarkone are available here.
The Northern team reached 13 A finals and won 2 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze medals, gold going to J14 2x and J16 1x, silver to J16 2x, J16 4x- and WJ15 4x+, and bronze to J15 2x.
All crews gathered points for their respective regions with the total amassed deciding the outcome of the team competition. The Northern team produced their best outcome and their first podium position for many years, taking 3rd place overall, 4th in boys’ events and 8th in girls, as well as taking 3rd place overall in the single sculling events.
Eastern Region and Thames Upriver East tied for overall first place. Victor Ludorum positions are shown in the tables below.
Congratulations to the athletes and their coaches!