British universities take to head racing

Day one of the two days of head racing was dedicated to beginners racing and the newcomers to rowing got a full taste of the elements with what could be described as blustery conditions.

Raced on the River Nene in Peterborough, this was the third time that this event has been held there and the relatively straight course required the beginners to row 2,500m with the championship and intermediate categories rowing 4,500m.

The beginners’ races (for those who have rowed for less than a year) attracted 600 students who had to battle strong, gusty winds. But the weather turned around for the second day of racing giving the championship and intermediate categories a day of sunny, but cool, racing.

Organiser Fiona Rennie commented, "We set aside Saturday for beginners events. We had planned for two divisions (morning and afternoon). Unfortunately we has strong winds in the morning which made conditions on the water very difficult and with the forecast indication that the gusts would get worse in the afternoon, we cancelled the afternoon's racing. This was obviously disappointing."

There were a number of junior and under-23 national team members racing including George Rossiter who has medalled at both the World Rowing Junior Championships and the World Rowing Under 23 Championships. Rossiter raced in Newcastle’s men’s championship eight which not only won their race but was the only crew to go under 12 minutes for the 4,500m course.

Reading University was the stand-out club amongst the women, winning the championship eight, championship coxed four, quadruple sculls and lightweight coxless four.

At the end of the weekend Durham University had finished easily at the top of the medals table with Newcastle University following in second and Reading University coming in third.

Results