Karen Hough

Image of Karen Hough

It is with great sadness that Grosvenor Rowing Club announce that Club member Karen Hough, sadly passed away on Friday 22nd October 2010.

Karen was a holder of the prestigious Frank Lowe Silver Blade this year – an impartial annual award open to all river users given to the outstanding person on the River Dee in any year. She joined Grosvenor Rowing Club as a novice over 30 years ago in 1979,  reaching elite level in both rowing and sculling. She rowed at Henley Women’s Regatta reaching the quarter finals when it was an open competition to all.

Throughout her long association with the Club she held numerous official committee posts including Social Secretary, Bar Manager, Press Secretary, Entries Secretary, Fundraiser and Vice Chairman and for Chester Regatta the positions of Secretary, Catering and Club Rep, and went on to edit the Club newsletter, The Raven, for a number of years.

In 2010, in recognition of her outstanding contribution and service to Grosvenor Rowing Club she was awarded Life Membership, only the 2nd woman in the Clubs 140 year history to be given this honour.

In 2002 she had a boat named after her, insisting it was titled after her nickname, Mama Kaz.

Well known and recognised in Northwest rowing circles, Karen has represented the Club at five World Veteran Regattas:- Groningen, Hazewinkle, Seville, Strathclyde and Vienna. She also won a silver and two gold medals at the British Rowing Masters Championships and a Veteran Henley along the way and culminated in being crowned World Veteran Champions in Strathclyde in 2005.

She established a Veteran Women’s Squad in 2007 running and organising crews training etc and ensuring the continuation of Veteran Women’s rowing at Grosvenor and it was as part of this squad that she could be found upriver most weekends until her illness made it impossible.

Grosvenor through and through, there was never any doubt wHere her loyalties, passion and commitment were directed. She will be greatly missed not just by everyone at Grosvenor Rowing Club but by all on the River Dee.

Her funeral is open to all and is being held on Thursday 28th October at Blacon Crematorium in Chester at 3pm followed by a celebration of Karens Life at Grosvenor Clubhouse. The only request is that everyone wears “river wear” – Club splashtops gillets, fleeces jeans,even wellies!! No formal, no black.