The 178th Durham Regatta took place on the weekend of the 11th and 12th June with over 500 crews competing over the whole weekend.
Newcastle University took the title for the Blue Riband event the Grand Challenge Cup for Elite Coxed Fours. Newcastle beat the Tyne Rowing Club/John Snow College composite in the final by 3 lengths having beaten holders Durham University in the semi-finals.
Newcastle also took the title in Open Championship eights on Sunday. A hotly contested event with 7 challengers from across the north this event provided fast and furious side by side racing.
Durham University put in a strong showing over the weekend winning 11 of the 95 events. They showed strength in depth with wins from the Novice Freshmens squads through to the elite squads who will be competing at Henley Royal Regatta in a few weeks time.
Mayor of Durham Councillor Les Thomson presented the prizes for the Mayors Plate for Novice Fours where John Snow College won the event beating St. Cuthberts Society in the final by a good margin.
The prizes for the Corporation Challenge Cup for Intermediate 2 Coxed fours were presented by the Chairman of Durham County Council Councillor Dennis Morgan. Here Durham Amateur Rowing Club beat Leeds Rowing Club over the 1800 metre “long course”. The crews raced through the Elvet Bridge arches and around the Cathedral peninsula to finish at the Counts House.
Winners in the other events came from near and far. Local schools Durham School and St. Leonard’s Catholic School came away with a good haul of prizes. From further afield crews from Bradford, Doncaster, Lancaster, Liverpool and York all went away with wins.
The Durham University colleges took a number of wins. The hotly contested Victor Ludorum prize for the Craven Challenge Trophy was won by Grey College. Grey tied on points with John Snow College but won on countback having won in the higher status Women’s Intermediate 3 eights event.
The full list of 2011 winners for Saturday and Sunday are now available.
