This year’s winners of Durham Regatta’s most prestigious championship race for the Grand Challenge Cup – Newcastle University’s coxed four – kept their magnificent form to win Henley Royal Regatta’s Prince Albert Challenge Cup. The Newcastle University crew beat Imperial college in the final by two thirds of a length.

The semi-finals at Henley were almost an all North East affair, with Durham University’s A crew, runner up to Newcastle in Durham Regatta’s Grand, and the university’s B crew losing out narrowly to Imperial and Newcastle respectively.

Newcastle University coxed four in the Grand Challenge Cup Durham Regatta 2017 Photo: Al Johnston

According to Durham Regatta’s Chairman, Dr Nigel van Zwanenberg the results are a confirmation of the high quality Championship racing that Durham Regatta offers to competitors and spectators alike:

“It’s great to see such competitive crews from the region go on from Durham Regatta to impress at Henley, the most internationally recognised venue for side by side racing. We are happy to invite crews, from all over the UK or beyond, who are challenging for Henley to come and compete against the best at Durham Regatta in June next year.”