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115th regatta pulls in massive entry
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By Neil Lewis
Hexham Regatta 2 June 2001
Warts, boils, plagues of frogs we didn't get, but for the first half of the day, wind and the occasional cold shower led to choppy water and steering difficulties for some of the novices. By novices I don't mean young nuns you understand, that would be stupid. I mean the likes of Applegarth (aged 60+) of Durham Amateur Rowing Club who has never won a ranking race. Mr A had the honour of book-ending the day, competing in the first and last races against two Hexham boats, and losing both. The latter gave Higgins (he of double scull/bridge/bang/oops fame) the men's veteran novice medal.
This was Hexham Regatta in its 115th incarnation with one of its largest boat entries of modern times. That's not big gates for boats to come in through of course, but 147 crews from 21 clubs. Innovations this year included the Royal Hotel Regatta Bar, and side-shows provided by one of the event sponsors Ultraventure of Greenhaugh, and the Art Tour 2001. We would have had many more but for the late go-ahead the event received due to foot-and-mouth restrictions. So pencil in your diary the first Saturday in June 2002 as a must; the Hexham Riverside Festival and Regatta, God, MAFF and weather willing.
Hexham's Regatta is an ideal day trip destination for out-of-towners, and could truly be used to show the town and the area in a good light. Amongst the regional rowing fraternity it is already known as one of the best, up there with the mighty Durham. Given more local support it could be one of the occasions in the town's calendar. So we must truly thank our enlightened sponsors who helped make the day the success it became. A special mention should go to one of HRC's newer members, Steve Edwards, whose Stamfordham Village Shop was one of these; Steve, a sponsor and excellent boating marshal.
The only thing missing from the action packed event was the people of Hexham. Never mind. This is what you missed. Racing started at 1030 and continued throughout the day in boats ranging in size from single sculls, no wider than your behind to
. "No madam, not your behind, that small behind, behind you."
They were particularly wobbly, especially in the morning's wind,
"No madam. Single sculls are wobbly."
.Racing continued until 1730 in boats ranging from single sculls to eights, the juggernauts of river racing.
The youngest athletes to be seen on such occasions are the highly competitive early teenage school crews like Peter Hoare's Ponteland, who receive shrieked support for their enthusiasm. As they age, muscle and technique take over, and the squeaky shout becomes a deep-throated bellow from the university clubs. Durham's raucous Hatfield College obviously study a module in this. The final category of sports-folk you see on regatta day are the regional club rowers whose club-mates are older and too puffed from their exertions earlier, to do anything but gasp. For them the end of their careers will consist of the ignominy of being beaten by what seem to be small children in designer kit racing in novice classes. Why do you think Redgrave retired? Why do Hexham's veteran aces of Mulholland and Jaconelli carry on? Because deep down they are still kids in designer kit. J & M, this day as guests, helped the Tyne RC eight to lose. Even they have off days.
However, HRC did enjoy a fair measure of success. The Women's Senior 3 coxed four of Siddle, King, Douglas and Phillips won. This was special as cox, Sally Dixon, is one of our newcomers and didn't know she was entitled to a medal for simply sitting there shouting. There's obviously some in-boat rivalry here as later the crew split into two Women's Senior 2 double sculls to contest a straight final. The youthful Douglas and Phillips won in a close race. An ever improving junior men's U16 double of Steele and Palmer had a bye to a final which they duly won. The Doodys, George, and son Sam, and new treasurer Roddy Findlay competed in their first regatta and hopefully found it fast, furious and fun, whilst other old lags simply raced and lost and thus shall remain anonymous.
Should you be a statistics freak and want to see the full results and loads of great Doody photographs of the day, go to the club website on www.communigate.co.uk/ne/hexhamrowing
We are now in the thick of the regatta season. If you fancy becoming an HRC groupie, follow us, they are great riverside picnic/barbecue days out. Our next starring role will be at Dumfries in the middle of the town on 24 June, and then at Talkin Tarn, the beautiful lake near Brampton, on 7 July. The Tarn club have only been able to get at their boats for the last three weeks as the lake has been closed by foot-and-mouth restrictions. Normality seems to be returning. With the Hexham Town Regatta over for another year, it's the same for us, apart from an article in Farmers Weekly in a fortnight.
02 Jun 2001
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