Seven wins for Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club at Merseyside Regatta

WJ15 Quad Winners - Maggie Page, Sally Tisdall, Molly Archbold, Hannah Lowe & Amy Aspinall (cox)

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A large team of juniors from Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club (HLRC) travelled to the Liverpool Victoria Rowing Club on the Wirral to race over the 500m course in the Merseyside Regatta and came away with seven wins.

This was the first regatta of the season for the juniors who had prepared long and hard over the winter.

The first competitors from HLRC were Maurice Barber and Paul Phillips in the J15 Single Sculls. Maurice lost a hard fought semi-final with a determined effort. Paul won his semi-final well but lost to strong competition in the final.

The next crew was a WJ14 Quad, racing for the first time together. Poppy Fletcher, Eloise Friend (in her first ever race), Rosie Pickles, Maggie Page and Charlotte Carter (cox), had three hard races in the round robin format. The crew showed real determination to win all three races and collect well deserved medals.

The WJ15 Single Sculls were next on the water. Sally Tisdall, Hannah Lowe, and Molly Archbold were representing HLRC in a strong field. Sally, Hannah and Molly all won their first heats in blustery conditions. In the semi-finals, Sally put in a strong performance but lost to Molly. Hannah won her semi-final with a determined effort and was through to race Molly in the final. Molly won a hard fought race to add to the day’s excellent wins.

Emily Carter and Lucy Lonergan had a straight final race in the WJ17 Double Sculls against a crew from Merchant Taylor School. The MTS crew had a technical fault when they initially set off so the race was re-run and was a resounding victory for Emily and Lucy.

Tom Swithenbank and Tom Bullock competed in the J16 Single Sculls. Tom Bullock lost out in his first heat, despite an excellent effort. Tom Swithenbank powered through his first heat, semi-final and final to win a well deserved medal.

The J15 Quad of Harry Heywood, Tom Wing, Nathan Scheider, Nic Friend and Olivia Smith (cox) put in a strong performance but lost in their first heat.

In the WJ16 Double Sculls, Lucy Lonergan and Amy Aspinall put in a good performance but lost in a straight final.

The WJ18 Rowing Four of Laura Aspinall, Amy Bullock, Sarah Eckersley and Yasmin Ruanne fought hard but were unable to beat their opponents from Grosvenor Rowing Club.

The WJ15 Quad, Molly Archbold, Sally Tisdall, Maggie Page, Hannah Lowe and Amy Aspinall won their semi-final in style. The final was a heart stopping race with the crew coming from behind to win the race in the last 100 metres. A well deserved win and well earned medals.

Maggie Page, who had already competed in five races in the WJ14 and WJ15 Quads, raced in the round robin format of the WJ14 Single Sculls. Maggie won her heat and semi-final well but lost by just half a boat length in an exciting final.

The two youngest team members from HLRC gave outstanding performances. Mark Phillips, in the J13 Single Sculls won his straight final with ease, as did Rosie Pickles in the WJ13 Single Sculls. Mark and Rosie did themselves and the club proud with determined and stylish wins.

The seven wins by the juniors of HLRC was an excellent result and the club Captain, Ian John, was impressed by the attitude of all the competitors in the team, regardless of their results, he said: “It was great to see the effort put in by all the crews. The hard work and training has paid off and there are even better things ahead for all the juniors.”