The Derwentwater Head 2024

Sadly, the 2024 Derwentwater Head, scheduled for Saturday 9 March, had to be cancelled due to wind conditions worsening beyond what was expected.

Rowers make history at Derwentwater Head 2023

More than 250 rowers from across the North of England converged on Keswick on Saturday 4 March for the first full-scale Derwentwater Head in over 150 years.

The time-trial style event, hosted by Lakeland RC and backed by British Rowing, was contested by fifty-four fours, quads and eights, with crews aged from fourteen to seventy-plus.

The fastest boat, an eight from Durham University’s Josephine Butler College, completed the 3km course in 11 minutes 36.4 seconds. They finished more than 13 seconds ahead of their nearest rivals, a quad from Tynemouth RC, setting a tough benchmark for future years.

Peter Harrison, who competed in a Sunderland RC masters quad, said: “We were blessed with the weather and the course was great.”

Sasha Castel-Branco, from Durham University’s Hatfield College, who raced in the day’s only mixed four, added: “The setting, organisation and atmosphere made it a very special day. It’s a beautiful lake to row on and the way the head was run was absolutely brilliant. We can’t wait to be back.”

Steve Holmes, who was part of a quad from Chester le Street ARC, agreed: “It’s a beautiful setting and a really good day. We’re already looking forward to next year.”

The lake’s last major head race was in 1870, when competitors travelled from as far away as London by train and carried their boats through Keswick to the shore.

Lakeland RC chair Julia McCumiskey said: “It’s the first time we’ve run an event of this size, following a small-scale trial pre-Covid, and it all went very smoothly. The conditions were perfect and it was wonderful to see lots of happy, smiling faces.

“We’re so grateful for the support of Allerdale Borough Council, the National Trust, the Lake District National Park, Keswick Lions, Mountain Rescue and Keswick Launch Company, and of our sponsors, Cumberland Building Society, Honister Slate Mine, Cumbria Parking Services, Elite Rowing, Bodyfit Cumbria and the Speddings of Mire House, as well as of all our members and their families.

“It wouldn’t have been possible to have the day without their generosity and hard work. We’re already planning how to make the 2024 Derwentwater Head even bigger and better.”

For a larger selection of Derwentwater Head 2023 pictures by our photographer, Clive Penkett, see the Lakeland Rowing Club Facebook page.

The Derwentwater Head 2020-22

Sadly, we had to cancel the Derwentwater Head scheduled for Saturday 7 March 2020, and it was not possible to run the event in 2021 or 2022 due to Covid.

The 2020 event, which had an entry of 106 crews from rowing clubs, schools and universities all over the UK, was called off due to a forecast of gusty winds, which would have made the lake too choppy and unsafe for racing.

We would like to thank the local community, including our headline sponsor, KE Adventure Travel, and other sponsors – Cumberland Building Society, Saint & Co accountants, Honister Slate Mine, Inovica.com, Carvetti Coffee Roasters and Caterite – for their tremendous support.

We’re also extremely grateful for all the assistance we received from other organisations, including our landlord the National Trust, the Keswick Launch Company, Keswick Lions, Derwent Water Marina, the town council, Keswick Rugby Club, Allerdale Borough Council and the Theatre by the Lake.