2015 GTR entries open!
5th Great Tyne Row entries open!
On 6th September, the Great Tyne Row will again see a mini armada of rowing boats heading down the Tyne from Newburn, west of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne to Tynemouth on the east coast. Dragon boats, stable rowing boats, a Celtic Longboat and St Ayles skiffs all joined the iconic but gruelling 25km rowing event last year. The organisers are hoping to break last year's record 34 crews this time around and competitors can send in their applications to join the fun from 2nd April.
The Great Tyne Row is in its 5th year and it challenges crews to test their stamina in the event dubbed #SlogOnTheTyne through the iconic Tyne Bridges, Quayside and the shipbuilding heartland of Wallsend & Jarrow. However many crews will compete in costume in order to try and bag prizes for the fun categories of “Best dressed crew” and “Best decorated boat” as not only sheer mettle and determination is awarded at the Great Tyne Row. Who will out-do last year’s snappy dressers the "Gosforth Gondoliers”? Who will beat Tees Rowing Club’s record of 1hr 37min for completing the course? A veritable array of shields, tankards, pennants and bottles of champagne are lined up for the fastest and best boats in different categories.
The colourful event is met on the Newcastle Gateshead quayside by a growing number of cheering fans each year who cheer the different entries under the Millennium bridge. The crowds will also have the opportunity to race against the boats by taking the strain on rowing machines on the Baltic Square.
The Northern Rowing Council runs the event and enjoys the generous support from the Port of Tyne, Newcastle NE1 Ltd and British Rowing and is gaining a growing reputation in the rowing world as a the north’s answer to the Great River Race in London. North east businesses are being sought to join the sponsors and help fund its running.
If you would like to enter a crew, or would like to volunteer to be a steward or helper on the day then please see www.greattynerow.com for further details. Early applicants can benefit from a £10 per person discount if their crew entry is submitted before the end of June 2015.
