Tyne United

Durham regatta is often known as “the Henley of the North” due the quality of the racing, the number of spectators and the Pimms and Strawberries! Held over two days the regatta attracts entries from as far a field as Amsterdam and from Novice through to Elite athletes. Tyne United were represented on both days of competition, with seven crews racing on the Saturday and four on the Sunday.

An early start on the Saturday morning led to the J15 2X of Sam and Pat looking rather tired as they arrived to rig their boat. Their first heat was against a crew from Bradford Grammar School, however this proved to be a rather easy passage to the next round as, off the stakeboat, their opponents crashed into the wall. The semi final saw the boys racing against a Tees/Leeds composite crew who were always going to be very quick. Both crews had a good start and sculled well, fighting hard to try to take the lead. Unfortunately the composite crew proved to be the stronger and beat the Tyne United crew to the line.

Pat & Sam - Durham

Another member of the junior boys’ squad was also competing, this time in J15 1x. Finn had a bye through the first round and progressed easily through his semi final. In the final both scullers had a good start and were very evenly matched down the course, it was only in the last five strokes that Finn lost the lead and being that close to line there simply wasn’t enough river left to mount a come back. In his first full season of racing Finn has quickly become a very competent sculler and he is now aiming to go to the National Championships in July to pit himself against the best J15 scullers in the country.

Finn - Durham 2010

Two members of the womens squad were also out racing for TURC at Durham, Liz Harries in the Novice 1x event and Debbie Connolly in the Elite 1x and as half of a composite elite double with Megan Bell from DARC. In her first heat Liz was up against a much younger sculler from Durham School and whilst Liz got off to a good start the Durham School sculler pulled ahead and went on the win. Debbie’s double lost out in a very close heat, whilst in her single she beat her opponent in her first heat but unfortunately lost out in the final to a very fast sculler from Hatfield College.

Two Masters’ crews made up the last of the seven TURC crews on the water during the first day of the regatta. A Masters’ quad of Jim, Andrew, Kev and Martin were due to race York City in a straight final, however, York must have heard just how ‘good’ the quad was and scratched from the event, so the crew never even made it to the start line. The second of the Masters’ races was the Masters’ D eight of Chris, Paul, Paul, Rob, Andrew, Martin, Kev and Jim. The crew had, it was fair to say, very little practice before the regatta and were in the privileged position of having been drawn against the current National Veteran Champions from DARC. The DARC crew, due to their older average age, were due to be given a 12 second head start off the line but waived this as they were wanting a good training outing as, after the race, were due to head down to the Nat Vet Champs to try to defend their title. Whilst the outcome of the race was always likely to go in the DARC crews favour, the TURC Crew rowed a good race and certainly didn’t embarrass themselves. The crew are now training regularly together and will be back at Talkin Tarn.

Masters' 8+ - Durham 2010

Following on from Saturdays extremely good weather, Sunday was an altogether different day. Cold, wind and at points torrential rain showers made racing (and spectating) slightly less enjoyable but nevertheless, four TURC crews were back on the Wear ready to do battle.

First up were the two J15 2x of Caitlin and Claire and Hannah H and Bianca. Unfortunately, Claire didn’t feel too well and after making a valiant attempt to boat and paddle towards the start line, sickness got the better of her and the crew scratched from the event. This left Bianca and Hannah to face a Tees 2x that had won regional trials – a big challenge for such a novice crew. The girls sculled well and the whole way down the course, spectators could hear Hannah H providing motivation from the bow seat. The Tees crew won by a length and a half but neither of the two girls should be disappointed with their efforts.

Most of the races at Durham are over the short course of 750m, however some of the events are raced over the long course of 1800m. The long course poses additional challenges than just being longer in length! Scullers have to negotiate the notoriously difficult arches of Elvet bridge at full race pace. For some reason, probably not even known to her, Debbie had decided that her races on Saturday weren’t enough punishment for one weekend and entered the Elite 1x event on the Sunday, held over the long course. During the race Debbie and her opponent appeared to be having a very close battle and as they disappeared from view and through the Elvet arches there seemed to be nothing in it. Supporters held their breath and waited for the PA system to announce the final result, hoping for the first win of the weekend for TURC – however, it wasn’t to be, with Debbie being pipped at the post and TURC still empty handed.

Molly and Hannah D were the last hopes of the weekend for Tyne United, with their race not scheduled until after 5pm and with the weather getting steadily worse, the girls boated to race the J16 2x event in what could only be described as a monsoon. After taking their place in the queue for the stakeboats both girls could be seen baling out their footwells with their hands! Racing against a crew from DARC. Molly and Hannah sculled well but in the end lost by just under two lengths.

Although there were no wins for TURC at Durham a TURC boat did win. Luke who rows for both TURC and Cambois borrowed a double from the club on Sunday. With a fellow Cambois competitor the two lads sculled a perfect race in their first heat despite Lukes footplate failing after the start causing him to effectively row the race with his feet out. As the lads crossed the line the rain increased and two very soggy competitors had to stop for emergency repairs with Andrew before they could compete in the final due to follow almost on immediately after the heat. Repairs made and another slight delay as Andrew ensured that both athletes now physically shaking with cold were allowed to put on dry kit.

Now to compete in the final and compete they did the double flew with renewed energy as the Cambois crew powered the TURC boat to victory adding another win to Lukes single win on Saturday.

Well done Luke and congratulations’ Cambois.

So, nine crews racing, one crew scratched due to illness and one due to their opponents having heard about Andrew steering from bow. No wins for Tyne United rowers (but one for a TURC boat) and some good racing over the two days – onwards to Tarn.

Has anyone got photos from the Hexham regatta that can be posted to go along with Helen’s report? If you do send them to me at turc.comms@gmail.com and I’ll post them. Seems a shame when the club did so well.

There’s a post on Durham Regatta that’s just awaiting a response and will be out later today. I’ll maybe bring my iPad along to the Talkin Tarn regatta and we can do a live blog if others are willing to help me write it.

Another Saturday, another regatta, this time at Hexham (the short travelling distance appreciated by all those club members who didn’t have too get up too early). In total 17 of the clubs crews raced over the course of a very long day. First up were Michael and Luke racing in their IM3 2x, after moving easily through their heat they then faced a Durham University crew in the final. Before the race both Michael and Luke felt intimidated by the size of their opposition, however, David definitely beat Goliath as the boys stormed to an easy victory and the first medal of the day for the club. Coming across the line, Luke’s delight at the win was somewhat apparent, even the commentator noted the victory cry.

Single sculling was next on the agenda, with Josh racing in the Novice event. Josh only started sculling at the start of the regatta season and has improved immensely since his first race at Chester le Street a couple of months ago. At Hexham Josh drew some tough opposition in his heat in the form of a Durham University sculler, however, unfazed by the calibre of his opponent, Josh battled through to the end and although the Durham sculler won the heat, he was heard to remark to Josh at the finish line as to how it was a much tougher race than he had imagined due to Josh’s “never give up” mentality.

Next up for the club was the womens’ novice doubles event, a straight final between two TURC crews, Molly and Hannah D vs. Hannah W and Liz. With coaches and club members divided as to who to support, the only certainty was that it was going to be medal number two for the club. Off the start it was difficult to see who had taken the early lead, however by the time the race crossed the finish line it was the younger crew that were victorious, losing their novice status in the process.

A trio of J15 boys were next to compete in single sculling events, Sam and Pat in the J15A category and Rogelio in the J15B event. Sam was first to race in a very closely fought contest against a sculler from Tees. They battled all the way down the course, with both scullers determined not to let the other take the lead but unfortunately Sam was just pipped on the line. Single sculling is one of the hardest events to master and it is certainly nail biting rowing up to start on your own without the support of crew mates, Rogelio in his first singles race of the season didn’t appear to let his nerves get the better of him and held his own in his heat, being beaten by his much larger opposition from Merchant Taylors school. The final member of the trio to race was Patrick, also up against a Tees sculler, but faring rather better, winning his heat and progressing through to the final. In the final Pat was up against some tough opposition with much more sculling experience and just lost out in the last hundred metres.

At Durham City regatta earlier in the season Hannah H nearly caused many of the umpires/officials and coaches to have a heart attack with her gravity defying exploits in her first ever race in the single scull. However, Hannah came off the water in Durham wanting to master the event and returned to Hexham somewhat apprehensive but determined to conquer her fears. Drawn against a QEHS sculler with a home advantage, Hannah lead off the start and only relinquished the lead half way down the course. Hannah’s mum and Helen spent the whole race holding their breath in case of a repeat of Durham but Hannah put in a very good performance and should be proud of what she has achieved in such a short space of time in a difficult event.

The first of the larger crew boats were next to race, an IM3 mixed quad of Chris, Helen, Linz and Andrew. With two whole training sessions under their belt they were well prepared for anything (or so they thought)! Up against a crew from Tyne and with Claire in the cox’s seat the four paddled off. There was plenty of banter on the way up to the start, with the QEHS mixed quad stating that they would have given up sculling long before they were the age of those in the TURC boat! Sadly it was not to be, the Tyne crew were the stronger on the day and won by a length and a half. However, all the crew agreed that it certainly wasn’t the best outing that they had ever had (so many to choose from?) and that they would be back at Talkin Tarn in July.

Another womens doubles event followed, this time with Jo and Sarah competing in the IM3 event (all Jo’s fault as she lost her novice status in her single at Durham). This event had a high number of entries and the girls had to win two rounds just to make the final. Unfortunately, although they won both their qualifying rounds easily they were out rowed by a younger crew in the final. Bad luck girls.

With one win under his belt, Mike was also set to compete in the IM3 single scull event, drawn against Merchant Taylors, both scullers fought hard all the way down the course with Mike losing out in the final few strokes.

Whilst both Sam and Pat had already competed in J15 singles, their preferred event is their double, in their heat their opposition were disqualified for steering issues, leaving the boys to paddle down the course and through to the final. In the final they showed the benefits of being in a long term rowing partnership and won the third medals of the day for TURC.

One of the newest members of the club was racing next. Dave Smark only joined the club because he was sick of standing on the bank waiting for his daughter Claire and now here he was in his first ever race. Dave partnered up with Rob Fletcher to contest the Masters’ D doubles event. Drawn against a much more experienced Tees crew the pair were always the underdogs but put in a good display of Masters’ rowing to give Dave his first taste of racing.

One of the most recent crews to form from the junior squads is that of Bianca and Hannah H. Before Hexham they had trained three times in their double and weren’t entered until the last minute as the crew hadn’t even formed when the original discussions were held. Competing in the J15B event, both girls were very nervous as they paddled up to the start line, especially when they discovered that their opponents had been sculling for 5 years as opposed to Hannah H who has been sculling less than twelve months. However, neither had anything to worry about as they rowed their hearts out, beating their opponents convincingly. No-one watching would have guessed just how recently the crew had formed. Medal number 4 for the club.

Medal number five came in the J16 1x event. Luke was drawn in a straight final against Wilson from Talkin Tarn. Luke spends most of the regatta season rowing against this competitor and knows that he needs to row at his best to beat him. Hexham was definitely a good regatta for Luke as he sculled to his second win of the day.

The last medal of the day came from the masters quad of Martin, Kevin, Jim and Les, racing against a Tees crew. Another good performance from the established crew and an easy win over their opponents. By now it had been a very long day for the TURC supporters, but it was still not over, the penultimate race of the regatta was the WIM3 coxed quads of Helen, Linz, Hannah and Liz. The crew had only been together for a couple of weeks and were racing against a more experienced Tyne crew. Unfortunately experience triumphed and the girls were beaten by a couple of lengths.

All in all a very long, tiring but successful day for the club, six wins, a lot of close fought races, a brand new (if somewhat complicated) marquee and some topped up suntans. Roll on Durham and Talkin Tarn.

Pat & Sam J15 2x

Finn J15 1x

Martin, Rob, Andrew, Martin, Jim, Paul, Paul, Chris, Claire (cox)

Further images have been posted on the gallery page