Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th June 2012

The 179th Durham Regatta  takes place on the weekend of 9th and 10th June 2012.   Centrepiece opening of the week long series of events  leading up to Durham’s Olympic Torch celebration on Saturday 16th June 2012, the Regatta this year features a series of Challenge Races on Saturday 9th June.  Premier crews from Durham and Newcastle University will compete in a series of  Challenge events, culminating in the Northern Universities Boat Race.  Other  Founders’ challenge races will feature founding members of the regatta,  Durham School and  Durham Amateur Rowing Club, racing against invited opponents.

Also new to Durham Regatta this year is a planned parade from Palace Green to the Racecourse – a  modern reflection of the original parade of boats of 1815 in honour of the victory at Waterloo,  from which the regatta developed.  Oars from each of the  clubs,  schools, colleges and universities competing at the Regatta will be paraded by their club members as a guard of honour to a racing eight carried on the shoulders of rowers representing Durham and Newcastle Universities.  The parade signals the start of the Founders’  Challenge Races on the afternoon of  Saturday 9th June.

The traditional classic car rally held on the Racecourse alongside the regatta together with stalls of all varieties provide further spectacle,  colour and activities for spectators and visitors.

Information on the rowing events to be offered and bankside activities will be posted on this website as soon as arrangements have been finalised.

Applications for tradestands are now being taken.  Please click here for further information.