North East Rowers Score Historic Double Victory

Published 22 July 2008

Rowers from two of the region's Boat Clubs have put the North East firmly on the international rowing map with a historic double victory at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta.

A Newcastle University Boat Club (NUBC) crew of Fred Gill, Mason Durant, Murray Wilcojc, Nathan O'Reilly, coxed by Carolyn Johnson, won the Prince Albert Challenge Cup in the coxed fours event, while Stuart McCluskey, Will Fletcher, James Harris and Kieren Emery, from Tyne Rowing Club, won the Wyfold Challenge Cup in the coxless fours event. The Tyne RC crew led their final race from start to finish to beat off competition from London Rowing Club in the final race of the prestigious five day event, winning the race by one length.

In the final of the Prince Albert Challenge Cup, Newcastle University's coxed four beat the University of West of England by two lengths. On their way to the final, NUBC defeated opponents from the top UK rowing universities, including Oxford (Isis), Cambridge (Goldie), Oxford Brookes, Bristol and Imperial College, as well as crews from America, Australia and Holland.

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Thanks to Wokingham Photographic for use of the photographs.