From clubs to regions: Pulling together at the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta
Leeds Rowing Club of Yorkshire and Trentham Boat Club of the North West reflect on what it means to compete as a team bigger than their clubs
Credit: Tabitha Cooper
Jonathan Long is a parent at Leeds RC, with a daughter racing in the J16 Coxless Four. She’s representing Yorkshire at the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta (JIRR) for the second time. “I’m very proud of what she’s doing. She’s really enjoyed rowing from starting two years ago to where she’s got to now, and she just wants to carry on!”
“It just sort of proves that it doesn’t matter sort of what background you come from. If you work hard, then you can sort of do anything.”
JIRR is unique in that clubs come together as a team to represent one of 16 rowing regions, including Scotland and Wales. Leeds Rowing Club’s junior programme has moved from strength to strength in recent years, with twelve crews selected to represent Yorkshire this weekend. The club hosts a Junior Rowing Academy as well as a GB Performance Development Academy – this weekend they’re taking part in JIRR, U19 GB Rowing Team Trials and the Olympic Development Pathway Regatta, all at Holme Pierrepont Country Park.
“It’s a great environment,” said Jonathan. “The coaches are really good with the kids and the atmosphere down at the club is good from seniors right through to juniors. It’s a big, big shout out to our coach Rob.”
Rob Mackenzie, Head Coach of Leeds Rowing Club, was thrilled with the progress Leeds have made in the last few years. “It’s fantastic being here. Three years ago, I think Leeds only had four crews or two crews out of the whole Yorks region, and now we’ve come with 12 for the past two years. We like being able to support the whole region as much as we can so we can step up as a whole group. Then tomorrow, our two girls trialling are going to have a really good go at getting a GB vest.”
Credit: Tabitha Cooper
Leeds Rowing Club’s juniors are just as proud of their coaches as the parents are – one boat has ordered personalised socks with Rob and their other coach Ciaran’s faces on them. “I’m extremely honoured,” said Rob, laughing. “I think anything that I’ve done in this club, that’s the most important thing that’s happened. I think I can leave now. There’s nothing better than that.”
Isla Marks’ boat finished second in the Girls J15 Coxed Fours. “It feels surreal to win silver. This is our first year sweeping, we’ve been working on our balance and never giving up. It’s come on so far. Isla’s older sister Liv is at Yorkshire’s GB Performance Development Academy, both of them racing in Nottingham this weekend. “It’s really nice to share this family moment.” Isla is hoping to follow in Liv’s footsteps.
When our CEO Tom Solesbury visited the North West region he noticed how well the clubs coordinated with each other – at no place better than the Junior Inter Regional Regatta, where a line of North West tents extends from behind the finish line to down the bank.
Credit: Tabitha Cooper
Trentham Boat Club had 25 junior rowers eligible to compete at JIRR, and 23 of them secured places after their regional trial. 11-year-old coxswain Alice has only been rowing since September, but she was selected to steer her boat and represent her region as the youngest competitor at JIRR. “I really like being at my club, I like the energy. This is my first big race’ my coach said I should do calls every stroke. My favourite call is ‘legs’.”
Alice’s mum Emma has been to JIRR before. “This is the third year that my son has represented our region, the first year that my daughter is representing the North West,” said Emma.
The junior squad at Trentham has trained regularly and hard to field such a large part of the North West team. “They work hard, the coach pushes them, but they do really well and they’re a really good club. I’m a psychologist by trade, so I see that what they get out of the club is more than just rowing. It’s the resilience. It’s the teamwork.”
Coach Daz Barton is thrilled at the turn out. “It’s pretty special. We’re really proud of ’em. It’s been a big project – we started thinking about it in September and managed to keep the group together. I think it’ll be tough racing. Everyone’s here. But this is a really, really proud day today.”
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That couldn’t be clearer than on the faces of Sophie’s friends, as she crossed the line to take bronze in the J15 Girls Single Sculls.
Gracie was holding back tears at the medal pontoon. “No one ever expects anything from Trentham because we are just like such a tiny club. Sophie works so hard for everything she does. And she just deserves everything that she gets. She’s just incredible. It just makes us feel so proud, and it just sort of proves that it doesn’t matter sort of what background you come from. If you work hard, then you can sort of do anything. And Sophie proves that as well.”
Sophie could hear her friends running the whole way down the course. “I’m so, I’m so proud of myself. And I know everyone else is really proud of me, I just pushed as hard as I could, and I’m so glad that I did because I got my medal for it. I’m just glad I can bring my medal home for literally everyone. I know it’s not first place, but it’s first to me.”
