The Cambridge-based Cantabrigian Rowing Club made history at the Women’s Eight River Regatta in London

The Cantabrigian Rowing Club captained Cambridge to the Women’s Eights River Regatta at London’s Tideway on March 4.

A total of 320 crews from across the UK and abroad came together to race the 6.8 km course from Chiswick Bridge to Putney Bridge, making it the largest women’s rowing event in the world.

Cantabrigian sent a total of six boats – the women’s senior A, B, C and D teams along with the intermediate and junior teams – to the capital to compete, and as a result they were the second best represented in the competition.

In the Provincial Pennant, Cantabs A finished 34th overall in a time of 20 minutes 27.4 seconds, 16.5 seconds behind Tyne Amateur Rowing Club A, who won the class.

However, their performance saw them finish as the fastest of the Cambridge-based club, beating City of Cambridge rowing by 33.5 seconds.

Meanwhile, Cantabs B came home 86th, finishing just 0.5 seconds behind the Cambridge ’99 Rowing Club A crew with a time of 21:15.

Also among the top 100 was Cantabs C – thus making the history of the club. The crew’s finishing time of 21:29.1 was good enough for 95th place and it was the first time Cantabs’ third team had come within the 120 leading positions in the event.

The Cantabs also sent a fourth team into the competition for the first time and stopped the clock in 22:18.6 for 166th place.

Cantabs Juniors were best of five places, which was the best finish for the club’s youth by 80 places and put them in good stead for River School Principal on Friday (17 March).

Rounding out the day was the Intermediate team, who finished 173rd with a time of 22:26.3.

Club captain Ellie Darlington said of the performances by each crew: “This was a strong set of results from the women’s teams, with the Cantabees side enjoying by far the strongest set of results of any of the Cambridge-based clubs.

“It is a testament to the excellent training team in Kantab, as well as a strong group of motivated athletes.

“The disappointment I felt at missing out on winning the county pennant this year will only serve to motivate the team in their training over the coming months as they turn their focus on competing in summer regattas such as the Henley.”

The Head Regatta, scheduled for this coming weekend, will mark the peak of the Head Regatta season, after which athletes begin the training process for the shorter, faster summer races.