North of England Sprint Rowing Championships 2015

North of England Sprint Rowing Championships 2015

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In total contrast to last year’s event, not a drop of rain fell on approx. 300 competitors in the North of England Sprint Rowing Championships hosted by Hollingworh Lake Rowing Club (HLRC) on Saturday, 5 September.

The 500 metre, fully buoyed, three lane course saw 23 clubs competing in 159 events throughout the day. The blue skies and bright clouds passed over the shimmering waters, embraced by the low lying hills of the Pennines.

Schools, universities and rowing clubs competed for each individual heats and finals in the hope of becoming the overall winners of the Senior and Junior Victor Ludorums. The senior team of Bradford Rowing Club won the £500 cheque and, in a close run battle, the Junior squad from Trafford Rowing Club took away the £500 winning cheque.

There was determination and commitment from all the athletes, whether junior 13s racing for the first time or masters with many years of experience.

HLRC had competitors in dozens of races, some racing three or four times throughout the day. There were many excellent wins for the Club with some seniors taking away four winners medals! All the Club members fought hard to win on home waters and there were several noteworthy victories.

Two junior crews, rowing up in senior novice categories won their first rowing points. The women’s novice four and eight crews beat seniors to achieve their first wins and thus earn their first points. In true HLRC tradition this meant having to jump (with some help) into the lake at the end of the day.

Another first time win at their home regatta was for Ann Edmondson and Jules Miller who won their first race together as a novices doubles crew 12 years ago. Although Ann and Jules have raced and won many times over subsequent years they had never raced in a double at the Club’s regatta before. The event and the win was made more poignant as it was their last race together, and Ann’s last race in the UK before emigrating to New Zealand in a few weeks. Ann has been instrumental in helping to organise the Club regatta for many years and will be missed by all her friends at HLRC.

The victories were spread amongst many clubs including Merchant Taylors School BC who had a large team attending and had some excellent wins, Newark RC, Leicester RC, Liverpool Victoria RC, Doncaster Schools RC and many others.

A spokesperson for HLRC said: "A successful day for individual competitors, crews, and clubs, was all facilitated by months of preparation and hard work.

"HLRC were proud of the event they had staged and, with a lot of positive feedback from competitors and spectators alike, are looking forward to an even better Championships next year."