Derwentwater Head 2025 is lake’s largest-ever rowing event

Rowers from across the north of England and Scotland converged on Keswick on Saturday 8 March to compete in the largest event of its kind ever held on Derwentwater.

The Derwentwater Head time trial, hosted by Lakeland Rowing Club and backed by British Rowing, was contested by seventy-three crews of four or eight and four coastal-style one or two-person Lite Boats. The rowers, aged from fourteen to seventy-plus, raced in three divisions over a 2.65 kilometre course running down the east side of the lake, from Kettlewell to Keswick foreshore.

The fastest boat was a masters eight from Harrogate-based Black Sheep Rowing Club. The crew, who had an average age of fifty-two, completed the distance in an age-adjusted time of eight minutes and forty-eight seconds, thirty-four seconds ahead of their nearest rivals.

Sue Gibson, chair of Windermere Rowing Club, who raced in a masters crew, said: “It was an absolutely amazing day and beautifully organised. It was the first British Rowing event for a couple of our members and they were so excited to take part.”

Challenging course

Rick Walker, from a masters crew fielded by Talkin Tarn Amateur Rowing Club, said: “It was glorious being out on the lake in such wonderful surroundings, and the course was trickier to steer than it looked, which kept our bow man on his toes.”

James Gibson, a student at Durham University’s St Hild and St Bede college, whose eight won the open category for rowers under twenty-seven, agreed about the challenging nature of the course.

He said: “It’s an event I’ve wanted to do since I started rowing. It’s not like racing in lanes or on a river – it’s something completely different. There’s a lot of tactics involved. Getting the right line is crucial.”

A historic event

The Derwentwater Head was last contested in 2023, as the 2024 race had to be cancelled due to high wind. Before that, it hadn’t been held since 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: “Saturday was a fabulous day. We had a total of seventy-seven entries across the various categories and age bands, compared to fifty-four two years ago.

“We couldn’t have asked for better weather and, thanks to all the hard work by our members and their families, local organisations including Keswick Lions, and umpires from other clubs, everything went really smoothly.

“We’re also extremely grateful for the support of the National Trust, the Lake District National Park, Keswick Launch Company, UK Lite Boat agent London Youth Rowing Active Row, and of our generous sponsors, Derwentwater Marina, Cumberland Council, Mike Fell Building Contractor Ltd and Lloyd BMW Cockermouth. The event wouldn’t have been possible without them.”

She added: “The race committee are already thinking about how to make 2026 even bigger and better.”