From Oxford to Croatia to Rotterdam to Poland, Newcastle’s Boat Club has certainly had a very busy (and highly successful) summer. Lucy Brogden spoke to publicity officer, Kelsey Stoddart, to get the lowdown on what they got up to over the summer.
June: Henley Women’s Regatta, Oxford, UK
Newcastle sent three boats down to the international regatta. The Senior Eights lost out by ¾ length in the semi-final to Imperial College London, who finished second overall in the competition, whilst the Senior Coxed Fours lost to Molesey in the quarter finals. Victory came from the Academic 8 who won gold, beating Cardiff, Kings College London, Nottingham and then Oxford University in the final to clinch the title.
June-July: Henley Royal Regatta, Oxford, UK
At one of the most prestigious events in the rowing calendar, Newcastle shone on the world’s stage, with six crews competing for the toon.
Whilst the women’s eight failed to qualify in the Remenham Challenge Cup, in the Temple Challenge Cup, the men’s eight lost out to eventual winners of the competition, Oxford Brookes, after beating Exeter by three lengths.
“NEWCASTLE TOOK SILVER AFTER A STRONG COMEBACK FROM EDINBURGH”
In the Visitors’ Challenge Cup, the men’s coxless four qualified, but lost out to an Australian crew from Adelaide. In the men’s quadruple sculls, it was a northern showdown, with Newcastle losing to local rivals, Durham, after qualification.
Newcastle’s most successful result came in the form of the Prince Albert Challenge Cup, a cup which they had previously won back in 2008 and 2014. Newcastle were to face Edinburgh, who they had previously been beaten by at the Marlow Regatta. Despite leading the race up until half way, Edinburgh came back strongly, and clinched victory by a length and a quarter, meaning Newcastle took silver.
August: European University Games (EUSA), Zagreb-Rijeka, Croatia
Newcastle university sent four crews to Croatia to compete at the European University games in a multi-lane regatta. The men’s lightweight coxless four came fourth, whilst the men’s coxless four, quad, and the women’s eight all took home a silver medal.
August: Word Rowing Under 23 Championships, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Four athletes from Newcastle competed in the championships, representing team GB. Newcastle alumni James Rudkin took silver as part of the men’s coxless four, whilst Em Ford placed third alongside cox Sasha Adwani in the women’s eight. The most successful story of the tournament came courtesy of Ollie Varley, who clinched victory in the lightweight men’s quad.
September: World University Championship (FISU), Poznan, Poland
Representing Great Britain at the games were three Newcastle students. Alex Haynes and James Robson placed sixth in the men’s pair, whilst Olli Knight clinched gold as part of the men’s coxless four.
