Communities celebrated: Clubs mark major anniversaries with an action-packed series of events
162 clubs are lining the lake at Holme Pierrepont Country Park in Nottingham for the British Rowing Club Championships; here’s what’s happening at home!
At least two clubs at the British Rowing Club Championships are reaching historic milestones. Northwich RC are celebrating their 150th anniversary this year, with Maidenhead gearing up to celebrate their big birthday in 2026.
Lisa Davies, from Northwich’s J15 Coxed Quadruple Scull said: “It feels great to be celebrating all the amazing rowing and rowers from the club over the last 150 years. It’s been really interesting listening to the experience of our coaches, who have competed and gone through training to be at events like this one, the same as us. We’re a club of friends, rather than coaches and rowers.”
“To finish in sixth in the time trial and to be within four seconds of third feels quite good.”
A few weeks ago, Northwich RC were proud to participate in a Row Past during the tea interval at Henley Royal Regatta. The crew, comprised of Clare Briegal, Finn Lawton, Matt Jump, Ed Grisedale, Will Laughton, Ellie Cushen, Beth Button and coxed by Andy Morrison, were warmly welcomed by spectators as they rowed past the enclosures.
Maidenhead RC has a plethora of activities lined up in preparation to celebrate their 150th anniversary next year. There’s a brilliant schedule of events planned with the club revealing everything in due course!
Leo Davies, from the J15 Coxed Quadruple Scull said: “We’re quite a small club, but we have such a lovely community and we’re all looking forward to celebrating. It means quite a lot to be at events such as the British Rowing Club Championships. We’ve been working towards this for a while. To finish in sixth in the time trial and to be within four seconds of third feels quite good.”
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The wonderful waterways of British Rowing
From celebrating milestones, to some of the more unique rowing locations across the country, rowing cubs are brimming with tales to be told. Every athlete is proud of where they come from and where they ply their trade, as Jack Ribbens in the J18 Quadruple Scull from Bewl Bridge RC, and Ruby Morley, in the Women’s Double Sculls from Tees RC, explain.
“It’s very unique rowing for Bewl, we row on the biggest reservoir in the South East. This presents crews with several challenges, mainly the wind, but we also get a lot of fishermen. It just means that the conditions here in Nottingham are pretty tame for us, in comparison to what we’re used to, which is nice.”
As the Junior Club Captain for Tees RC, Ruby doesn’t just have great titbits and anecdotes about her club, but also the boat she’s competing in today. “The double that I’m rowing in today is a captain duo, as I’m joined in the boat by our Club Captain, Becky Graham. We’re lucky to row on one of the longest stretches of river, we can go for 25 kilometres.”
Another team that is used to rowing on a long stretch of tidal river is the Dart Totnes RC team. All the way down in Devon, the team enjoys hosting the Head of the River Dart where crews race over 14km. One of the longest races that rowers can test themselves at.
Cormac Malone, from their J16 Quadruple Scull, said: “It’s a long journey to Brit Champs, but fantastic to represent the club and the South West. It’s so different rowing for a tidal club, so to be here today and not to be dependent on the tide makes a change.
“We have to contend with a lot of things happening on the river, the tide can change very quickly, you get a lot of sailing boats coming up and down, flotsam and jetsam, and we also get the occasional seal!”
Enjoying the side-by-side racing is Jamie Ford from Leeds RC, competing in their J15 Quad: “It’s nice to represent my city. We have a really nice stretch of river, which enables us to practice a lot for head racing. We can also practice a lot for events such as this one, as we do have a lot of straights. Having side to side racing is great, we relish those close quarters.”
A lot of rowers from the previous two days’ racing have stayed around to support crews competing in the second day. That show of camaraderie and friendships formed is also evident at Rob Roy School.
Josie-May Milligan, who has raced in their J15 Coxed Quad, said: “We spend six days a week training. You become not just friends with your crewmates, but also the coaches and the whole team. You become a family. Rowing takes up a lot of my time and I have school and musical theatre, but there’s just something about the bonds you create at a club.”
Watch the races back on Champs Live!
