Across The Line: Record-breaking day on the Bridgewater Canal

February 23, 2026

Plus Norwich School BC continue their speedy run of victories and hear from Frankie Allen on her journey to Paralympic Champion

Credit: AllMarkOne

We’re Across The Line, your weekly roundup of all the racing action across the UK! Join us to look back on a fantastic weekend of racing across the UK.

19 records fall at Trafford Head of The Bridgewater

Trafford RC had a day to remember as they successfully hosted the latest instalment of their head race on the Bridgewater Canal. Three records fell on their 1000m short course, while a staggering 16 course records were broken over the longer 3200m distance.

Across their 40 entries, the host club picked up 19 wins and set four new course records in the process. Their Masters squad had a cracking day, winning and and setting course records in the Open E Coxed Four, the Open G Quadruple Scull, and the Mixed D Quadruple Sculls.

Trafford RC also set the fastest time of the day across the short course, clocking 04:00.4 in their Open J14 Coxed Quad. Manchester University BC’s Open Eight were the kings of the long course, beating the Open J18 Quadruple Scull from Northwich RC by over a minute, who themselves snuck past the Open Eights from Runcorn RC and Mersey RC.

For Northwich RC, their aforementioned quad was one of seven victories for the Weaver-based club. In the big boats, they also pick up the Open Quadruple Scull title as well as the Open J15 Coxed Quad, and the Women’s Masters D/E title too. Their juniors were nimble too, winning the Women’s J15 Double Scull and the Open J14 Single Scull.

It was an equally impressive day for Warrington RC, who travelled en masse with their juniors. Wins came across the day and across the division lengths, picking up both the Open J13 and J15 Coxed Quad titles as well as the Open J13 Single Scull. This went very nicely with their conquering of the Double Sculls, heading home with both the Open J14 and J16 medals and the Women’s J15 title.

In the small boats, Lakeland RC shone bright, picking up two wins in the Double Sculls across the Open and Open Masters E events.

Credit: AllMarkOne

Full results

Norwich School continue momentum at Norwich Head

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After finding early season speed at Great Britain Trials and at the Junior Fours Head, Norwich School BC have continued their top performances into 2026. Their boys were on immaculate form at Northwich Head, winning Open Band 1 Eights and Open J18 Quadruple Sculls in the first and third division, respectively. Both divisions were raced over the 5000m course, while division two, topped by Norwich RC’s Open J18 Double Scull, was raced over a more enjoyable 1900m. The local school led the way with 18 crews entered, while Rob Roy BC and Tideway Scullers School BC had 17 and 16 crews racing, respectively.

The Chiswick-based programme picked up eight wins in total.

The Cambridge clubs were great across the board. While Rob Roy BC picked up a sensation six wins across a range of categories, it would be Cambridge ’99 RC who went home with the Women’s Eight title, which they won in division three for the fourth year in a row, beating First and Third Trinity BC by 40 seconds. While Rob Roy BC won the Open Masters Single Scull, they were one of 10 clubs that showcased the strength and breadth of the competition that took to the River Yare. Bedford RC loaded up their trailer to head back to the River Great Ouse with a trio of wins in the Open Masters C Eight, Masters D Double Scull, and the Mixed Masters E Eight. Yare BC and Champion of the Thames had a brace of wins each.

Full results