A clean sweep of medals for Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club WJ13 Juniors

Sally Tisdall, Silver; Hannah Lowe, Gold; Molly Archbold, Bronze

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Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club made a clean sweep of medals in the WJ13 category in the English Indoor Rowing Championships – Hannah Lowe (Gold), Sally Tisdall (Silver) and Molly Archbold (Bronze) all achieving personal best times. 

Other successes for HLRC were Katie Hargreaves (Silver) and Reece Handley (Silver) who both fought hard for their medals. Although many other juniors attending and competing from the Club did not win medals they all achieved great personal success and produced their best times and distances. Individuals and relay teams were left exhausted and breathless after demanding races against the toughest competition in the country.

The Club Captain, Ian John, said: "I am really proud of them all. They all worked so hard and achieved amazing results.”

The English Indoor Rowing Championships took place at the National Cycling Centre, Manchester Velodrome on Sunday 2 March. The event is organised by Rebecca Caygill, President of Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club and run by club members, as it has been since it’s founding in 1998.

Over 650 competitors took part in 25 races. The age range was from 11 years old to 81 year old - Charles Morley competing for his tenth year. Charles took up the increasingly popular sport of indoor rowing when he was 70 because “running marathons got too much. I couldn’t manage the whole distance any more.”

This year saw more junior competitors than ever before, reflecting the growing popularity of indoor rowing at school level. Juniors competed in single and relay events within their own age groups. The arena was filled with an amazing atmosphere as 20 to 30 relay teams of four competitors with foot-holders, teachers, coaches, parents, grandparents and anyone else watching shouted and screamed encouragement. 

All competitors of all ages made the event a huge success with aches, pains and memories forged into the bodies, minds and hearts of so many, whether medal winners, first time competitors, or just those who enjoyed being part of a great experience.