The 2024 Durham Regatta, held on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th June, kicked off with sunny conditions but with a cool headwind that aligned perfectly with the course and generated choppy water – conditions therefore suiting those with good technique 🙂
‘Big Durham’, as it’s commonly known, feels like a festival of a regatta, with many food & drink options and a good sized crowd to urge the rowers on – but with a narrow course and shallow water it can be a daunting experience for novice crews!
Day one saw Hexham crews reach five finals, with four bringing back the medals in the Womens J16 double, the Womens Elite Quad, the Open J16 Quad (featuring a very cool Fluid Designs borrowed boat!) and a composite Hexham, Durham & Tyne Amateur Open Masters Eight featuring Kevin.
Day two was a touch quieter for Hexham, but the results still came through – four finals were reached; four of the Hexham ladies joining forces with DARC to beat York University in the Eight and claim a tankard, Kevin’s Masters Eight continuing their winning streak in the morning added to the tankard tally in the afternoon too in the Masters Coxed Four and a further collaboration between Hexham Junior Ethan T and DARC in the J16 Quad, with only the Womens Non-Championship coxless quad missing out by half a length against a strong Collingwood crew in their final.
Even in the challenging winds the Hexham rowers acquitted themselves well and brought crews and boats back safely.
Many thanks to the coaches and all the helpers including trailer drivers Julia and Catherine 🙂
