Novices shine at University of Lincoln Beginners’ Head

More than 100 novice rowers from Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire converged on the River Witham on Saturday 12 November, for the inaugural University of Lincoln Beginners’ Head.

De Montford, Nottingham, and Sheffield Universities joined hosts Lincoln to test their burgeoning novice squads for the first time since the start of the academic year in September.

With the BUCS Head of the River race looming in February, the event provided 124 rowers with their first taste of competitive rowing.

University of Lincoln crews claimed victory in the Men’s Beginner Eights, Women’s Beginner Eights, and Women’s Beginners Fours.

There was also a top-placed finish for Nottingham University, in the Men’s Beginner Fours.

‘It was a splendid day,’ said umpire Dan Smith. ‘I thoroughly enjoyed myself and the beginners certainly seemed to – though I suspect we educated as many spectating parents as we did rowers.’