North of England Sprint Rowing Championships Draw Crews from Across the Country to Hollingworth Lake
Hollingworth Lake was a picture-perfect setting last Saturday as the North of England Sprint Rowing Championships returned in spectacular fashion, welcoming competitors from across the country for a day of fast-paced racing, community spirit and sporting excellence.
Blessed with sunshine and light winds throughout the day, the championships ran smoothly from start to finish, with organisers successfully delivering 113 races throughout the day.
A total of 216 crews took to the water, representing 21 rowing clubs. The competition featured 104 Open senior and masters crews, 33 mixed crews and 79 junior entries, highlighting the depth and diversity of rowing talent on display.
The event's growing reputation was underlined by the distance travelled by some competitors. Walton Rowing Club and Burway Rowing Club journeyed from the Thames region near London to compete, while Warrington Rowing Club brought the largest contingent with 43 entries.
Among the standout performances, Warrington Rowing Club claimed the Junior Victor Ludorum title, while City of Sheffield Rowing Club secured the Senior/Masters Victor Ludorum award. Both trophies were sponsored by former elite rower Rodney Taylor.
The championships also attracted distinguished visitors, including the Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Faisal Rana, and Mayoress Iram Faisal, who spent several hours supporting the event and even took to the water to experience the racecourse first-hand. A representative from the British Rowing Board of Directors was also in attendance and praised the scale and success of the regatta.
Safety and event operations were supported by a wide network of local organisations and volunteers. Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club and Hollingworth Lake Adventure & Water Activity Centre provided boats and personnel for safety cover, helping ensure the event ran safely and on schedule.
In total, 167 medals were presented across the day. Behind the scenes, 62 club volunteers, race officials, umpires, St John Ambulance personnel and supporters worked tirelessly to deliver one of the region's premier rowing events.
Organisers also paid tribute to local sponsors including Wallis' Hollingworth Lake, LWL Gym, The Olive and Pickle, and Graham Collier, whose support helps the club continue providing facilities, coaching opportunities and inclusive access to rowing for juniors, older adults and adaptive athletes across the Rochdale area.
