Favourable tide timings allowed the 2026 Great Tyne Row to go ahead on Sunday, August 23rd, the first time in three years that tides have been suitable for it to be staged.
Twenty five crews in stable quads and fours, coastal skiffs and outrigger canoes set off from Newburn on the high tide for the 25km voyage down the River Tyne to Tynemouth, many dressed in keeping with the Puffing Billy theme chosen for this year’s event by the Northern Rowing Council. Among the entries was a mixed coxed quad from Durham ARC and two composite quads including representatives from DARC.
Conditions were good and after passing the Quayside bridges and shipping lanes and negotiating the waves, all participants arrived safely on the beach at Tynemouth where they were welcomed ashore by members of Tynemouth Rowing Club.
The Women’s quad ‘Off the Rails’ which included Helen McMillan and Gill Prescott in a Durham composite with Goring Gap and Mortlake, Anglian & Alpha Boat Clubs, coxed by Dave Green, was the fastest Women’s boat to reach the finish and the second fastest boat overall, completing the course in 2hr 09m to win the Catherine Cookson Foundation Shield.
The Broxbourne/Durham mixed quad ‘Upham’ was 15th in 2hr 38m, and the ‘DARC Explorers’ mixed quad was 23rd in 2h 56m.
The fastest crew overall was the Open coxed quad from Weyfarers Rowing Club in 2h 04m.
The 3 River Serpents were 6th fastest finishers in 2hr 16m and were the fastest outrigger canoe entry.
Results can be found here.
Off the Rails
Upham
DARC Explorers
3 River Serpents