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Supersprint Rowing Challenge Durham 2001
May 5th & 6th 2001
The first Regional Supersprint Challenge took place on May 6th 2001 on the river in Durham, England.
As a result of the magnificent achievements of Sir Steve Redgrave (Supersprint Rowing co-founder), Matthew Pinsent and the Great Britain Racing Team, the upsurge of young people wanting to take part in the sport has been phenomenal.
To meet this demand and ensure that champions will be created in the future, all profits from the Durham 2001 Supersprint Rowing Challenge will go towards supporting Rowing in Durham.
Stars out in force for first Regional SuRo
Rowing superstars Sir Stephen Redgrave and Tim Foster MBE were guests of honour at the inaugural Regional Supersprint Rowing Challenge, held in Durham, England, on a fine Bank Holiday weekend.
Foster and Supersprint Rowing founder Redgrave took an active part in the celebrations, starting off a tight programme of events with the Sir Stephen Redgrave Dinner on the Saturday night, at which both oarsmen spoke to a packed-out Great Hall of Durham Castle, and charity auctions were held.
The next day rowers from the counties north of Leeds took to the river, with Supersprint Rowing Challenges in the Elite, Junior and College categories, together with a fours race for colleges held over the same 350 metre sprint distance. Heats of two boats on the narrow river led to a knockout system, with some very close racing.
As the organisers commented, "the hardest thing was getting Steve [Redgrave] from A to B", as packed crowds of the several thousand spectators begged for his autograph. However, they eventually put the five-times Olympic gold medallist on the water, not to resume his rowing career, but to take up a new challenge as a coxswain. A celebrity coxed pairs race was held, in which both Redgrave and Foster steered crews composed of Newcastle Falcons rugby players. The winning crew included international rugby superstar Rob Andrew, rowing, and was coxed by Sir Steve.
Results, Sunday May 6th
Elite Supersprint Rowing Challenge: Won by the University of Durham by one foot, over Queen Elizabeth High School. The QEHS team for this relay included Peter Wells, brother of GB Olympian Matthew, in the single scull, and Durham did superbly well to overturn the 2-lengths lead Wells had gained for his team in the first leg of the relay.
Junior Supersprint Rowing Challenge: Won by St. Leonard's School over Durham Amateur Rowing Club.
College Supersprint Rowing Challenge: Won by the freshmen of Durham University Boat Club over Collingwood College, Durham.
College Fours Event: Won by University College Durham (Castle) for the men, and St. Cuthbert's College Durham for the women.
Supersprint Rowing in association with
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