Durham Small Boats Head began in February of 1985 with crews competing over two divisions. Not long after this event began, two extra divisions were added to the draw to accommodate the growing participation. This year, over 500 crews have been entered over the four divisions. Durham SBH attracts crews from London all the way to Edinburgh, spanning far and wide from all regions of the UK, accommodating all ages, from 13 to over 70. As a result of the large number of categories, this event is inclusive and slightly less intense compared to the Thames Valley races.
Only 1800m of water is available to lay down a time, which means tight margins and a much more aggressive racing style are needed in comparison to those races of five km or more. However, it is most definitely not an easy course to navigate. The River Wear features a number of small arched bridges, which add a nail-biting edge to spectators on the banks as they wait for crews to overshoot their steering and b-line into the Elvet Bridge.
There are only five entries in the Junior Men’s Single Sculls, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that racing will be weak. Crews from George Heriots School, Cambois RC, Hexham RC, Durham ARC, and Lambton RC will set out with one common goal: to finish this course faster than their competitors.
Thorton – Cambois Rowing Club
First off from the pack of 5 scullers is Owen Thornton from Cambois Rowing Club. Based on the River Weisbeck since 1977 Cambois have achieved national recognition on a junior level and international medals on the masters level. Thorton finished up the 2023/24 season in the D final at the British Rowing Junior and Senior Club Championships, and brought momentum into the 2024/25 season by making the first of the British Rowing Junior Team ergometer assessments, which allowed him to attend the first assessment at Boston where he placed 137th. After this result, I’m sure Owen has some fire in his belly to kick off racing in this new year with a win at an event like Durham Small boats.
Khan – George Heriots School Boat Club
The next Junior Single Sculler set off will be Cameron Khan. A well-known Junior rowing star in Scotland and the reigning Scottish Champion in the quadruple scull, Khan also has a National Schools Regatta B final to add to his achievements. I imagine Cameron was an easy choice for Heriot’s head coach, James Davidson, to make the cut into the first quad last season. Cameron will likely seek national selection into the Scotland team in the late stages of this season and impressing coaches this early on in the season should set him up to pick up his first Scotland vest in his final school year. Khan is also a workhorse on the ergometer, competing at virtual rowing events with his school for numerous years and collecting a range of medals along the way. I think Cameron Khan’s previous success will stand him in good stead to be looking for top spot on the day.
Honourable mentions
Daniel Cantwell of Hexham Rowing Club is set off in the middle of the group of junior scullers and has numerous years of competition in his past. Hexham entered 2023 National Schools’ Regatta with a Junior 15 coxed quad which finished fourth in the B-final, in a very large field. Cantwell brought up the rear of this boat sitting in the bow seat. More recently at the British Rowing Junior and Senior Club Championships, Cantwell raced the Junior 16 single sculls time trial, unfortunately getting eliminated from the competitions. However, not far behind Cantwell in the time trial was Lakey from Durham Amateur Rowing Club, who will be hunting him down on Saturday. This could be a good chance for Lakey to overturn the result from the British Rowing Championships.
Prediction
I think that certain names in this draw stand out much stronger than others. In particular, Khan and Thornton are the clear favourites to battle for the medal. On paper, I can’t imagine there is much between the two; however, with the experience of GB trials under his belt, I think Owen Thornton of Cambois Rowing Club, who has had high praise from clubmates, will come out on top on the first of February with Cameron Khan of George Heriots School BC only a few seconds behind. I expect there to be a sizeable gap to the rest of the field, assuming nobody gets caught up on the tricky course.
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