Sunday 23rd November 2025 saw three masters crews travel to York for the Small Boats head. Sadly a number of scratchings due to injury and illness had depleted our team. Unlike the good conditions of 2024, while the Ouse flooding had dropped after recent rains, Division 2 had much more flow on the river.
In contrast to the sunshine of Division 1, Division 2 was proper heads weather, cold with several downpours.
As usual we were very kindly hosted by St Peters boat club and rowed through the City to the start. Racing took place from Fulford Green to King’s Staith, 3000m negotiating several bends. Still a delightful course.
The Men’s Open Masters C 4x- comprising Andrew, Anthony, David and James had a very solid race only 15 seconds off the winning Tees crew in the better conditions of Div 1.
The ladies B1 2X of Shor and Elizabeth had a good race but Loughborough University students from Division 1 denied them retaining their 2024 crown.
The Mixed G quad of Gill, John, Christine and Rob had an exciting proper heads race with Rob returning to racing/ steering for first time in 5 months. The crew moved over to let the Lakeland world gold masters mixed double through but were denied the best line later on by a Ladies masters quad.
Overall a great day out for Team Hexham with some solid rows if not last years clean sweep by faster times in each event by crews in the better conditions of Division 1. Full results can found here and more pictures here.
Thank-you to David for trailering.
Sunshine when we arrived:
