This weekend sees the return of the second-oldest regatta in the UK, dating all the way back to 1834. It has a long history of giving Durham University colleges and surrounding clubs the chance to race head-to-head against one another, no doubt fanning the fires of some long-standing rivalries. With the exception of a few events that take place over 1800m, the short, intense 700m racecourse will make for some incredibly exciting competition, especially as some crews will be using the side-by-side racing as practice ahead of Henley Royal Regatta.
Women’s Eights
On Saturday, there are only four crews racing in the women’s elite eights event, with one of the first races of the day between St Hild & St Bede College and Collingwood College. Given the latter’s performance at Durham City Regatta, where they won the band one women’s senior eights, as well as their reputation as the ‘sporty college’, I would expect to see a Collingwood victory here. The winner will then race either Leeds University Boat Club or Tyne ARC, although I would predict it to be Tyne, given their strong results from both WEHoRR and the Met Regatta. While we could be in for some close races, there looks to be a high chance that Tyne ARC will be taking the final victory at the end of the day.
The Sunday women’s championship eights category has proven to be comparatively more popular than the preceding day’s equivalent event. However, with two entries from Newcastle University, both of whom have been given a bye to a semi-final, it would not surprise me to see a completely Blue Star final, although I wouldn’t write off their close neighbours Tyne ARC, either. Regardless, I would still expect one of the Newcastle crews to take the overall win.
Women’s Quads
Another popular event is the women’s elite quads on Saturday. Standout names include Tyne ARC, Leeds University, and Yarm School. As Leeds and Yarm battle it out in the semi-final, it seems likely that Tyne will be making it through to the final, and are a strong contender for that last race.
On Sunday, there are only two crews entered into the women’s championship quads event: Leeds University and a Tyne ARC/Newcastle University composite. Tyne and NUBC are no strangers to working together, and the resulting crew often makes for a strong competitor, with one such example being their composite championship coxless four at the Metropolitan Regatta, which made it to the A-final. As such, I would expect them to take the win over Leeds this Sunday.
Women’s Coxed Fours
This Saturday, the elite women’s coxed fours event kicks off with a race between Yarm School and Lancaster University, one which should be close, but I reckon Lancaster will take it by a margin, given their impressive second place in the B-final of the women’s intermediate coxed fours category at BUCS Regatta. This will then be followed by a race between Tyne ARC and St John’s College, with Hild Bede receiving a bye to the semi-finals. Considering that Tyne beat both these Durham colleges in the band two women’s senior coxed four event at Durham City Coronation Regatta, I predict a close final between Lancaster and Tyne.
The following day, the championship women’s coxed four category only has four entries: Leeds University, Lancaster University, Yarm School, and Newcastle University. The first race between Leeds and Lancaster looks to be in the latter’s favour, given their respective performances at BUCS Regatta, where Lancaster were dominant in the time trial of the women’s intermediate coxed four category. However, in light of Newcastle’s reputation as one of the top university rowing programs, it is highly likely that they will take the win in the final.
Women’s Doubles
Once again, there are only four entries into the elite women’s doubles event on Saturday. Given their performance at Hexham Regatta, where they made it through to the final of the women’s doubles, it looks as though Durham ARC is the crew to watch out for in this category.
Durham ARC are racing again in the women’s championship doubles on Sunday, but they come up against Tyne ARC in their first race, who have seemed stronger in recent small regattas. As such, I expect Tyne to take the final win at the end of the day.
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