News

Durham women’s rowing continues to thrive

(22 June 2005)

Women’s rowing at Durham University just goes from strength to strength, with yet another set of good performances last weekend (17th, 18th, 19th June) at the Henley Women’s Regatta.

Three Durham students were part of the coxless four team that won the top event, securing a Henley title, in which they beat the Yale team from the US convincingly in the final. Lucinda Gooderham (St Hild and St Bede), Anne Allin (Hatfield), Louisa Reeve (Hatfield) were joined by Jo Cook of Nottinham University and they will be racing in Amsterdam next weekend for selection for the Great Britain U23 team.

Laura Gater, who just completed her MA at Durham, secured another Henley title by winning the senior single sculls event. At the start of July she will be teaming up with the successful coxless four, and three other athletes from the Leander Club to race in the Henley Royal Regatta.

The senior eight were once again the top university eight, a role they have become accustomed to this year. Regrettably, however, they lost to Thames Boat Club, late on Saturday afternoon.

Putting up a fantastic fight, but just narrowly losing out in the final of the quadruple sculls, were a collection of Durham affiliates in captain of the Boat Club Maggie Paxton (Hatfield), Andrea Hoskins (Staff), Ava Goodman (St Mary’s) and Chester-le-Street junior Frances Fletcher. Frances Fletcher is a talent to look out for in future as she is on the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS), will be trialling for the Great Britain junior team, and has had an offer from Durham University. This very talented team recorded the fastest time in the semi-finals.

Other notable results come from the Intermediate VIII that made the quarter finals before losing a valiant fight to the eventual winners. This same crew will go on to represent England at the European Students Rowing Championships.

But perhaps most remarkable were the Freshers crew in the intermediate IV. Supported by local company Bondgate Electrical and coached by Durham resident Marc Jones, they made it to the quarter finals, accomplishing what no other Freshers crew has ever accomplished. Considering the whole crew only started rowing in October, this is a particularly amazing achievement.

Other news is that Naomi Hoogesteger, who has had some phenomenal results this year, won her B final at the World Cup in Munich, placing her seventh overall. A fantastic achievement in itself, but it is expected that she will improve for the last World Cup in Lucerne in three weeks’ time, and she may be considered for the Olympic double.

Senior Rowing Coach, Wade Hall-Craggs delighted with all the results, “These are examples of the role the club can play in the region, helping talented athletes reach their potential whether students or members of the North East community.”

ends

Media enquiries to: Joy Davis, Public Relations Office, Durham University, Tel 0191 334 6803, e-mail: joy.davis@durham.ac.uk