Maggie Page wins gold in English Indoor Rowing Championships

Maggie Page Gold Medal in Womens J14

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Maggie Page, of Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club, leading from the start of the race, won gold with an outstanding effort in the Women's J14 four minute race as the largest ever entry saw athletes come from all over the UK, Spain and the Faroe Islands to compete in the 18th English Indoor Rowing Championships at the Manchester Velodrome.

The event is hosted and organised by Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club, with 40 machines being provided on the day by Concept, who provide support over the weekend. The growth in popularity and support for indoor rowing in schools was reflected in the vast numbers of juniors aged from nine to 18 years who took part in timed, distance and team relay events.

Flying in for the competition from Bilbao, Spain, Luis Amallobieta won two silver medals in the Men's 40-49 Lwt 2000m and 500m sprint. Luis had attended the competition previously and praised the event as “one of the best I have been to". He added: "The venue is excellent and it is so well run, and good fun.”

Also flying in was Sanita Kristina Hansen from the Faroe Islands who took away two gold medals in the Women's Open Lwt 2000m and 500m.

Of the many outstanding contestants and performances, Samantha Briggs from Train Manchester had a day to remember. A first time contestant at the competition, Samatha is a crossfitter and was persuaded by her training partners to enter. Her first race was the Women's 30-39 Lwt 2000m which saw her win the gold medal and a new British Record of 7:05.1. Samantha went on to win the gold medal and set a new world record in the Women's 30+ Lwt 500m sprint with a time of 1:33.4.

Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club (HLRC) had a large team entered over many events. Penny Price, the only senior racing in a single event put in an excellent performance in the Women's 50-59 Hwt 2000m category. Penny raced later in the Women's Open Team event with HLRC colleagues, Ruth Archbold, Kirsten Fussing and Janet Lowe. The 3000m team relay was the first time the ladies had raced together and their training and determination was rewarded with a silver medal.

Many juniors racing fought hard to achieve personal best performances and medals. In the Men's J16 2000m race, Tom Swithenbank put in a fantastic effort, winning a bronze medal by less than a second.

The Men's J15 race had a field of 44 contestants, one of the biggest entries of the day. The five minute race is determined by the greatest distance rowed in the time. Paul Phillips led the HLRC competitors, winning an excellent bronze medal. Maurice Barber, Harry Heywood, Nik Friend and Nathan Scheider put in good performances with several personal best distances.

Emily Carter, racing up a year, raced in the Women's J18 2000m. She put in a strong performance with a very respectable time and position. As did Lucy Lonergan, racing the Women's J16 2000m category.

In the Women's J15 five minute race, Molly Archbold, Hannah Lowe and Sally Tisdall all put in great performances to finish fifth, sixth and eighth respectively in a large field of 26 competitors.

In the Women's J13 race, Rosie Pickles won a silver medal in her three minute race. An excellent achievement against 27 others.

Charlotte Carter competed in the Women's J12 race and put in a strong performance.

Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club were well represented in the junior team relay events, over a distance of 3000m. The Men's J18 Team of Tom Swithenbank, Tom Bullock, Matthew Harris and Josh Gordon, and the Men's J16 Team of Nathan Scheider, Harry Heywood, Maurice Barber and Tom Wing, had good races up against strong opposition.

The Women's J16 A Team of Jess Pilkington, Harriet Jackson, Lucy Lonergan and Amy Aspinall fought hard for a good time against strong opposition.

The Women's J16 B Team of Sally Tisdall, Maggie Page, Hannah Lowe and Molly Archbold had a hard race, swapping second and third place many times throughout the event, but finished strongly to win a silver medal.

The Womens J14 Team of Rosie Pickles, Poppy Fletcher, Eloise Friend and Charlotte Carter did themselves proud in their first competition together.

A spokesperson said: "The event was a great success, reflecting the hard work of the organisers, and the wonderfully friendly and competitive spirit of the athletes and supporters alike."