Veteran rowers to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day on the River Wear in Durham
Veteran club rowers will make a splash on the River Wear to help mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, next month.
As a precursor to its annual city regatta, Durham Amateur Rowing Club is to bring together eight octogenarian members in one boat to commemorate the landmark anniversary since the end of the Second World War, in Europe.
The still active octet will take to the river in an eights' boat at the regular club session, to be given a special 1940s' theme, on Thursday, May 8.
Club official Colin Lawson said all of the eight 80-plus-year-olds remain regular rowers.
(Image: Durham ARC) 'We felt it appropriate to enjoy an outing on the river in an eight composed of members eligible to row in Masters J (for ages 80 to 84) and Masters K (ages 85 to 89) categories.
'After the regular Thursday morning session, there will be a special 1940s' themed menu of homemade corned beef and potato hash, followed by bread and butter pudding, available from the café at the clubhouse.'
Food and drink from the regular menu will also be available.
Mr Lawson said everyone was welcome to the event to mark the Allies' acceptance of the German surrender in 1945, in what promises to be a busy week for the club, leading up to Durham City Regatta, over the weekend of May 10 and 11.
(Image: Durham ARC) The club's own rowing festival is the first of the regattas held in Durham in the season.
It is a two-day event which usually sees around 250 entries on the Saturday, with a more 'relaxed' feel to the Sunday programme.
Racing on the first day is from a stakeboat start over the same 700m short course used by the event's 'big sister', The Durham Regatta, itself, which is held a month later over the second weekend in June.
(Image: The Northern Echo) Mr Lawson said the city regatta is particularly popular with the local university/college crews as it gives them a chance to race competitively without the complex logistics of having to arrange long distance travel, as experienced with many other events on the rowing calendar.
But there is, nonetheless, said to be particularly keen competition as eager rowers fight out long-standing rivalries between some of Durham's historic university colleges.
Read next ... more Durham City news from The Northern Echo, by
Crews can now apply to take part in next month's Durham Regatta
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Gallery: Races on the River Wear at the 191st Durham Regatta
The Sunday is said to be slightly more 'sedate' with events taking place over a shorter 500 metre sprint course.
Entries are still being taken up to the closing date of Thursday May 1, at 10pm.
Further details are available via durham-arc.org.uk/durham-city-regatta, on the club's website.
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