Category: Club News

Sustained high temperatures and unprecedented rainfall during December have taken their toll on the River Wear with flood defences being put into place twice within 3 weeks, the Environment Agency recording levels of around 2.90 metres on December 6th and again on the 26th, compared to the normal river level of around 0.50 metres. This[…]

Sixteen year old Durham ARC sculler Hope Cessford took the first step in her quest for selection for the Great Britain Junior Squad, finishing 14th out of 87 contenders in the first assessment time trial of the 2015/16 season in a single scull over a 5km course on the River Witham at Boston on November[…]

By completing the 2015 Great Tyne Row in September members of Durham ARC raised £1000 in sponsorship, which was divided between 3 charities – Clic Sargent (a children’s cancer charity), Grove House (which supports children with physical or learning disabilities), and Durham Trinity School (a special needs state school in Durham). Crew members and supporters[…]

During his short stay at Durham ARC former recreational rower Roger Bean kept himself busy when he wasn’t rowing by restoring the single scull ‘J. Hopper’ that he acquired in 2012 and kept in Clive Hole’s boathouse. Having moved away from Durham Roger’s restoration project has continued and is now nearing completion. Catch up with[…]

Members of DARC’s Juniors squad paid a visit to Durham University’s Oriental Museum last week to meet Olympic champion Kat Copeland and be inspired by her gold medal winning achievements in the lightweight double sculls at London 2012. Kat, who has been presented with a Nissan Qashqai by SG Petch, a Nissan dealership in Durham,[…]

At a presentation on September 13th at Durham Amateur Rowing Club four members of the club handed over funds raised in memory of former rowing coach Bill Grant who died in February after suffering a medical episode that led to him falling from his bicycle into the River Wear in Durham whilst coaching a crew[…]

Four members of Durham Amateur Rowing Club are undertaking a 1000 mile cycle ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats in memory of former Club member and coach Bill Grant who died in February 2015 as a result of a medical episode which led to him falling from his bicycle into the River Wear. Elliot[…]

On July 14th new ground was broken when, at the invitation of Tees Rowing Club, a group of 14 daytime and masters rowers from Durham ARC joined Tees RC to row the 18 mile round trip along the River Tees from Stockton to Yarm and back, a venture first proposed in 2011. Along with other[…]

The Northern Rowing Council recently put out an appeal for more umpires, with Durham Regatta offering added incentives. Three members took up the challenge and passed their final exams in June to become qualified umpires. The new recruits, Peter Stavers, Brenda Middlemiss (soon to become Mrs Stavers) and Steve Farrow officiated for the first time[…]

DARC’s Senior Women’s Squad is seeking new members. It’s Summer and Debbie has just sent out her e-mail giving exit routes from Learn to Row courses, others are moving into the region from elsewhere and some who are eligible may be considering moving squads. Please don’t delay if thinking of joining us, we use the[…]

A reunion of the Clasper family is planned for Saturday, May 30, from Noon until 2pm at South Shields Library in Georg Square (South Shields Town Centre). Relatives of Harry Clasper, the famous Geordie rower, are being invited to a family re-union in South Shields to celebrate a play that commemorates the 170th anniversary of[…]

On the morning of Saturday 28th February 2015, Bill Grant, an active member of Durham Amateur Rowing Club (DARC), suffered a medical episode resulting in him falling off his bike and into the River Wear. With help from members of the public paramedics began medical procedures on the river bank, until the Great North Air[…]

On May 4th, Bank Holiday Monday, DARC entertained British Rowing Chairman Annamarie Phelps as part of her tour of rowing clubs in the Northern Region prior to attending the launch at Derwenthaugh Marina of the St Ayles skiff ‘Harry Clasper’, built over the winter by members of the newly formed Gateshead Community Rowing Club. The[…]

On Tuesday April 28th the daytime rowers entertained a group of 6 recreational rowers from Nottingham Rowing Club, known as the Nottingham Explorers, who had asked to visit us. They are an expanding group of experienced tourers who have already rowed at exotic places such as Amsterdam and Venice and are always on the lookout[…]

The Club has undertaken some sterling fundraising efforts over recent months. The Juniors squad takes part regularly in bag-packing days at local supermarkets as a means of raising vital funds. Members of other squads also join in to act as packers and supervisors. The session on February 21st at Morrisons, Doxford Park raised £933 while[…]

History was made on April 11th 2015 with the Women’s University Boat Race for the first time being staged on the same Tideway course and on the same day as the Men’s race, both being televised live by the BBC. DARC decided it would be a good idea to follow suit, breaking new ground of[…]

Message from Bill Grant’s son Richard regarding arrangements for Bill’s memorial service I’d like to let you know a memorial service will be held for my father at 2pm on Friday 13th March, at All Saint’s Church in Cleadon. Please do circulate this among all who would be interested. All who would like to attend[…]

Following the latest inspection by the Food Safety Officer in February 2015 the club’s kitchen facility now has the highest level with a 5 Star Food Hygiene Rating. Thanks to Gene, Nicola, Clare, Marian and others for their hard work.

How the warm hospitality of DARC inspired a West Country resident to take up Rowing My twin sister, Joyce, was born feet first with a smile on her face and her foot firmly on my backside pushing me to get on with the business of living. She’s been like that ever since – amazingly fit,[…]