Durham Regatta
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Durham Regatta is a rowing regatta held annually on the second weekend in June on the River Wear in Durham, North East of
England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
; It is known as the Henley of the North, but began several years before the more prestigious
Henley Royal Regatta Henley Royal Regatta (or Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage) is a Rowing (sport), rowing event held annually on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. It was established on 26 March 1839. It diffe ...
. Durham Regatta is the second-oldest rowing regatta in England, preceded only by Chester Regatta. The first regatta was held over 17–19 June 1834, opening with a six-oared race in 1834 won by ''Velocity'', owned by W. L. Wharton, High Sheriff of Durham, against the Durham University Original Club in ''Sylph''. The race has been held 191 times and, in recent years, the regatta has had competitors from all corners of the UK, as well as crews from as far afield as
Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , ; ; ) is the capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, largest city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the City Re ...
. Almost all colleges of Durham University will compete across a variety of boat types and standards, and it is usually the chance to determine which college has the strongest crews of the year.


Events

Events are competed over either the short (regatta) course, a stretch of river which provides an excellent view of racing from start to finish, or the long (championship) course. The long course of takes in a number of sweeping bends and Elvet Bridge and ends near Prebends Bridge.


Grand Challenge Cup

The blue riband event is the Grand Challenge Cup, which has been run since 1854. It has recently been dominated by Durham University Boat Club and Newcastle University Boat Club. This event is for Elite Men's Coxed Fours, and due to the introduction of the Prince Albert Challenge Cup for Men's Student Coxed Fours at Henley Royal Regatta, this event has proved to be useful practice for student crews from the University Boat Club and College Boat Clubs in the run up to the Royal Regatta.


Gallery

File:Prebends and weir.JPG, Prebends Bridge from downstream, the finish of the Long Course File:Durham Regatta womens coxed 4s.jpg, A Women's Coxed Four from Tees rowing club racing File:Elvet Bridge at the Durham Regatta.jpg, Competitors about to race through Elvet Bridge at the regatta as part of the Long Course (Newcastle University on the right) File:SMCBCMen.jpg, A Durham college Men's Coxed Four race (St. Mary's closest) File:River Wear, Durham, looking east - geograph.org.uk - 96832.jpg, Looking upstream, The Racecourse on the River Wear where the Short Course takes place


See also

* Rowing clubs on the River Wear.


References

{{Reflist


External links


Durham Regatta

BBC News
Sport in Durham, England Durham University Rowing University rowing competitions in the United Kingdom Annual sporting events in the United Kingdom 1834 establishments in England June in sports Recurring events established in 1834 Annual events in England