Durham ARC hosted its annual ‘home’ regatta Durham City Regatta on the River Wear over the weekend of May 10th and 11th. A long spell of dry weather brought onlookers to the riverbanks in large numbers to enjoy the sunshine while watching the action, although the low river level also emphasized the challenge of staging a regatta in increasingly shallow water.
Sterling efforts by volunteers ensured that racing ran almost to plan throughout the 11 scheduled hours on Saturday and 8 hours on Sunday. Over 530 entries from around the region and beyond took part in 400 races over the two days of competition, Saturday being contested over the full 700 metres and Sunday over a 500-metre sprint course. Most boat classes were accommodated, including eights and octuples on Saturday.
Durham City Regatta 2025
Success was well spread between the 30+ competing clubs, and with many events being split into bands there were wins for several Colleges including Collingwood, St Cuthbert’s, St John’s and Trevelyan in the larger boat classes, as well as for Infinity Boat Club, St Leonard’s School, Queen Elizabeth High School (QEHS), Durham ARC, Tees RC and Hexham RC.
Chester-le-Street, Lambton, Cambois, Talkin Tarn, Doncaster and others had successes in the smaller boat classes, while a City of Oxford/Northumbria University combination won the Open double sculls event on Sunday, and Dame Allan’s made their first appearance at Durham.
Sunday events including J12 sculling with many competitors racing for the first time.
Durham City Regatta 2025
From an entry of 42 there were victories in 19 events over the two days for Durham ARC, including five in the same event on both days.
Saturday
Div 1
The J14 boys set the ball rolling with victory from a field of 7 in the J14 coxed quad, beating St Leonard’s, QEHS and Bradford Grammar School.
The Women’s Masters C 2x of Aisling Dutton and Jenny Conroy won against Tyne United and Tees RC, and Nick Baird lost narrowly to Tees RC in the final of the Open 1x.
WJ15 4x+ at Durham City Regatta 2025
Div 2
The J15 girls 4x+ had their first success of the weekend beating St Leonard’s and QEHS, while the DARC/Durham School J15 boys 2x lost to Cambois RC in their final.
The younger Juniors did well with the J13 4x+ winning on both days, overcoming St Leonard’s and Lambton RC on Saturday.
The MasH 4x- won a MasFGH 4x race after a bye into the final and victory over Talkin Tarn..
Andy Jaggard lost against Duncan Ferguson of Tyne United in the final of the MasH 1x, while the WMasF 4x- beat Tyne United G in the WMasFG 4x- final.
WMasF 4x- at Durham City Regatta 2025
Div 3
DARC’s two WJ15 scullers went out against Chester-le-Street and Cambois.
The J14 girls 4x+ reached the final but lost to QEHS.
The Senior Women won the Women’s 8+ band 1 final against a Hexham/QEHS composite after overcoming South College in the semi-final.
The MasE 8+ lost in the final against Tees RC by half a length.
Aisling Dutton gained her second win of the day, this time against two WMasE scullers from Tees RC in a WMasDE 1x handicap, while Joyce Collett won against Gill Houston of Talkin Tarn in a WMasFH 1x handicap.
The MasG 2x of Andy Jaggard and Richard Court also won against Talkin Tarn, and the final win of the day went to Patrick Lakey in band 2 of the J18 1x.
Sunday
Div 1
Louisa Scott and Charlotte Foster beat Sunderland RC and Tees RC to win the J18 girls double sculls.
The J14 boys 4x+ had their second win of the weekend by beating Tyne ARC in the final.
Izzy Maddison lost to Tees RC in the final of the WJ16 1x.
Div 2
The Women’s 4+ band 1 went out against South College in their semi-final.
Sam Hancill went out to Lambton RC in the semi-final of the J14 1x.
There was a second success for the J15 girls 4x+ who beat St Leonard’s and Durham School, while the J13 4x+ also followed up their Saturday win with another by overcoming St Leonard’s and Lambton RC on Sunday.
J13 4x+ at Durham City Regatta 2025
Three DARC Women’s Masters coxless quads entered on Sunday, racing one another in an EFG handicap with the F crew of Sam English, Helen McMillan, Gabrielle Moore and Christine Heppell winning against the G crew in the final to claim a second success of the weekend.
Div 3
David Westwood lost to Lambton RC in a MasC single sculling race after capsizing and being assisted by his opponent.
The J12 2x enjoyed a debut win against Lambton RC and Chester-le-Street. James Westwood came through the quarter final of the J13 1x against Lambton RC but went out to Cambois RC in the semi.
Jenny Conroy went out to St Leonard’s in the semi-final of the Women’s 1x band 2.
The WJ14 4x+ reached the final but last to Berwick/Lambton RC.
The MasH 4x- of Colin Lawson, Vaughan Gordon, Steve Auster and Dave Green came through the semi-final after their DARC MasH opposition was disqualified and went on to win the final against Sunderland F in a MasFH handicap.
The Senior Men (John Roxborough, Matt Lakey, Darren Smith and Roger Dunn with cox Stef Lavelle) who had returned from competing as a coxless four at Nottingham City Regatta the previous day won two close races against St Cuthbert’s and Grey College to win band 1 of the Open 4+.
The DARC/Durham School composite lost in the final of band 1 of the Mixed 4+ against Butler College.
Saturday winners
- J13 4x+
- J14 4x+
- WJ15 4x+
- J18 1x band 2 Lakey
- Women’s 8+ band 1
- WMasC 2x
- WMasD 1x Dutton
- WMasF 4x-
- MasG 2x
- WMasH 1x Collett
- MasH 4x-
Sunday winners
- J12 2x
- J13 4x+
- J14 4x+
- WJ15 4x+
- WJ18 2x
- Open 4+ band 1
- WMasF 4x-
- MasH 4x- Lawson
Umpiring at Durham City Regatta
Well done to everyone taking part. We are indebted to the many volunteers who played a part in enabling the competitions to take place.
Results can be found on Oar-Online for Saturday and Sunday..
SI Events has provided photos here.
Northern regattas continue with Tees on Saturday, and we look forward to Durham Regatta on June 14th and 15th.