Evesham Regatta
Evesham Regatta is a two-day rowing regatta held on the River Avon at Evesham in Worcestershire over the early May bank holiday weekend. It is organised by Evesham Rowing Club, which was founded in 1863.
The course
The two days use the same stretch of river in opposite directions.
| Day | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | About 1,000 m | Upstream, along the meadows |
| Sunday | About 500 m | Downstream sprint, starting from the old bridge in the town centre |
Racing is side by side, two crews at a time, with a knockout draw in each event. A road bridge just after the Saturday start gives one of the best views on the course.
Who races
The regatta is open to juniors, seniors and masters. Recent years have drawn around 400 crews from more than 40 clubs. For many Midlands crews it is the first side-by-side racing of the season, a month or so after the winter head races end.
Stream matters here. After heavy rain the Saturday course is rowed against a strong current, and times stretch accordingly.
Watching
The regatta is free to watch. The towpath and meadows give access to the whole course, and the club’s boathouse has food and a bar on both days.
Background
Evesham was once known as the “Henley of the Midlands”, a name the club still uses. The club also runs an autumn head race over two kilometres on the same water in October.