The presentation of prizes for the 2024 Durham Regatta is to take place at a new venue in the marquee on the Durham Amateur Rowing Club site.

Since moving from its traditional venue at Durham Town Hall over a decade ago the presentation of prizes to winners has taken place at Durham’s Gala Theatre or occasionally at alternative sites including the College of St. Hild and St. Bede.

Given the challenges associated with volunteers and officials being split over twin sites on Sunday, preparing the ceremony and trophies while racing continues, it has become obvious in recent years that a change would be beneficial.

Durham ARC hosts summer events in the marquee which provides a similar capacity to the theatre and is also able to offer refreshments. Being part of the Regatta site the new arrangement will avoid communication difficulties as well as enabling the trophies to be seen by a wider audience.

Durham Regatta has an impressive collection of 57 trophies, most of which have been donated, either by sponsors or in memory of former rowers or important figures from the region. Each trophy is associated with a particular racing event and is therefore only awarded if that event takes place.

Trophies are normally restricted to a 2-hour period of display at the presentation, and are only seen by those attending The Gala Theatre. This is a missed opportunity to promote the Regatta and its history.

The most prestigious trophy, and the most coveted in the North of England, is the Grand Challenge Cup which was founded in 1854. The victorious Durham School four can be seen emerging from the Town Hall with the Cup in the archive footage of the 1950 Regatta provided by the School.

Trophies are inscribed each year with the name of the winner, and the Regatta’s Honorary Life Vice-President Peter Bramwell has been engraving trophies since 1968.

The presentation is a formal event held at 8pm on Sunday. Hosting it in the marquee will make it visible to a wider audience and showcase the trophies which themselves tell the history of the Regatta. The range of tankards and hip flasks also presented to winners is to be reviewed.

Trophies

As well as being used for the presentation the DARC site will house an Athletes Village offering merchandise for sale, and a Volunteer Hub providing a base for the many volunteers needed to run the Regatta. Volunteers are being sourced through Durham County Council and Durham University as well as being provided by Durham ARC and School and College Boat Clubs. Anyone wishing to help can find out more and register with Durham County Council as an Event Volunteer.

The Regatta is very grateful to the Gala Theatre for its support in hosting the prizegiving in previous years.