Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club 2014 review

Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club Junior Team

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Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club has experienced a great year in 2014, growing in membership – both senior and junior – and competitive success.

The Club has gone from strength to strength competing near and far in short distance sprint regattas, longer distance head races, and even one of the longest rowing races in the world, the Boston Marathon in Lincolnshire.

The senior members of the Club have carried on their proud tradition of competing and winning through all age spectrums, from seasoned veterans to novices. At York, Chester, Trentham, Burton, and many other competitions, the Club was represented with pride and determination by a large contingent of Senior members who rowed in various categories – singles, doubles, quads, fours and eights. Dozens of gold medals and tankards have been won - all the result of hard work, excellent coaching, individual and team determination.

As well as senior members who regularly compete there are those who are new, learning how to row and scull, aiming to get together a men’s eight and women’s eight who can hopefully look to compete in 2015. The growth of senior membership, and the new possibilities it offers the Club is not only a sign of the ever growing interest in rowing as a sport and a past-time, but also helps ensure the solid foundation of the Club that has been built over more than a hundred and forty years remains healthy and intact for many years to come.

This foundation for the future also shows good signs of growth and success amongst the junior members of the Club. There has a been an increase in young members ranging from 12 years to 17 years enabling the junior co-ordinator to create new crews and give the Club a greater presence at competitions. The junior team train hard throughout the year, regardless of weather or temperature, running around the lake in the rain, or rowing when it is -2 degrees. Despite this they keep returning for more, determined to improve and win.

Throughout 2014 juniors have competed in Runcorn, Mersey, Tees, Burton, Nottingham, Warrington, Boston and several other venues. There has been success after success for singles, doubles and quads of all ages, with outstanding performances from newcomers and regulars alike. As well as competing the juniors have had summer and winter weekend training camps, perfecting technique and increasing fitness – as well as having great fun.

In September the juniors who took part in the Boston Marathon raised £2,000 for the Club which went towards a new boat which has been ordered for delivery early in 2015. The Club has also refurbished it’s weight training area with new matting and new weights, giving an excellent training facility. With the growth of the Club, there is need for an extension to the club house to provide better training areas and facilities, as well as the need to purchase new boats to allow greater time on the water for all members. The Club is looking for sponsorship to help achieve it’s goals and provide the best for it’s members.

As well as the weekly training schedule and competitions which are an ongoing and regular part of Club life, HLRC also hosted the North of England Rowing Championships in September, an excellent day of racing for all ages and abilities over a 500m course on Hollingworth Lake. Attended by athletes from all over the country, the regatta saw some great performances and well earned medals. Some of the prizes were presented by Club members, Ruth Walczak and Jess Leyden who both train with the GB Rowing Team. Jess also took to the water to compete in some of the races. The Sprint Championships brings the Club members together to work towards providing a memorable day for all taking part.

An important part of a rower’s training is the use of rowing machines. Indoor rowing is a growing sport throughout schools, sports clubs and rowing clubs, and the Manchester Velodrome was the venue for the English Indoor Rowing Championships in March, again organised and hosted by HLRC. Attended by over 650 athletes from all over the UK, and abroad, the event was a great success for the Club and all who took part or spectated. At the same venue, the competition is once again being held on March 29th 2015.

Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club moves into 2015 with a new vitality and vision, looking to compete all around the country, carrying on the tradition of winning that has always been part of the Club’s proud history.

Club Captain, Ian John, said: “The growth of the Club has been great to see in 2014 and will allow us to take bigger teams of seniors and juniors to compete. The success we have had in the past year is down to a lot of hard work and I am sure it will continue and increase throughout the coming year.”