presents

The Winter Challenge Cup

2nd March 2013

The Winter Challenge Cup is an annual event hosted by Durham University Boat Club which bridges the long winter gap between the Head season and Regattas. The competition is held on the river Tyne, boating from Tyne United Rowing Club. This year boasts a slightly revised format, with all racing happening across three divisions in one day. This event is the perfect warm up for the Women’s and Men’s HoRR, and never fails to provide a buzzing competitive atmosphere combined with plenty of camaraderie.

The new format of racing is to encourage all crews to enter both the Head and Regatta race. The 3.5km course for the head will run from the Old Timber Jetty at Blaydon to the finish line situated just past the Newburn Bridge. The results from the morning races will determine the seeding for the Regatta, a side-by-side competition, the start line will be at the bottom of the Newburn straight, with the same finish line as the head course.

Racing will be offered for the following boat classes:

• Men’s Senior VIII and IV+
• Men’s Novice VIII and IV+
• Women’s Senior VIII and IV+
• Women’s Novice VIII and IV+

A Novice crew must be made up of athletes who started rowing at the beginning of the academic year. You may race as a novice in a senior crew, but no more than half of the crew can be made up of novice rowers in a senior category. The timetable will be designed to accommodate those wishing to race in both 8s and 4+s.

By no means must competitors race all events, however should you wish to enter the Regatta please note that crews will be seeded based on their performance in the head race, those with no time posted for the head race will be seeded according to the slowest recorded head time in the same boat class.

More information can be found in the downloads section, including this year’s poster and entry form. Post-racing we will also publish the results on here.

See menu at right for downloads and entry forms.