News

Spring 2008

Rhiann Wynnes in Nottingham

Northwich Rowing Club travelled to Nottingham on Saturday the 25^thof April for Nottingham City Regatta held at the National Watersports Centre, Holme Pierrepont. This is a prestigious six lane regatta raced over the Olympic distance of 2000 metres and it attracts a very high standard of rower from around the country.

Rhiann Wynne was delighted to win Women's Novice single sculls! Rhiann's first race, early in the morning, was a qualifying heat in Women's Novice single. The water conditions are always challenging at this venue so technical skill is vital to succeed. She raced very well and led the field qualifying first out of five. Delighted with this result she was all the more determined to do well in the final, two hours later. With the weather conditions deteriorating and the wind strengthening, Rhiann used all her intensive winter training, focusing her attention on winning. She had an excellent start, pulling away from the rest of the field, a Tees RC sculler challenged her lead, however Rhiann lifted her rating in the last 50 metres to win the race.

Unfortunately Jamie Leighton's S2 single and Rhiann's J19 single scull races were cancelled due to strengthening wind speed.

The Junior Inter Regional Championship Regatta was held at the same venue a week before on the 19^th of April was cancelled due to foul weather. Racing was initially delayed due to the bitterly cold strengthening-wind creating dangerous conditions, resulting in the singles event being cancelled. However two events Junior 16 coxless Fours (both girls and boys) did take place. Northwich RC J16 girls represented the NorthWest region in a hard fought race over 1500 metres. They rowed very well battling against waves and 35 mile per hour gusting winds to cross the line 4^th. Crew: Jane Edwards, Mary Hunt, Amy Fallon, Claire Campbell.

Earlier in the month, Holme Pierrepont, hosted the British Canoe Union's, First Flatwater National Regatta of the season for Sprint Racing and saw an on-water debut for the Canoe Fast Track men of the World Class Programme one of whom is Matt Jump ex NRC rower, having only started this sport in Nov 2007. Matt is a 'paddler' and raced in different categories over the two days. The weather conditions were horrendous, very cold with gusting cross winds, however this didn't dampen the determination to do well and win. Matt won his C2 race on Saturday which pleased him and his coaches as he was up against very experienced seasoned paddlers. The next competition will be 3/4th May at Nottingham.

Spring Head

Our annual Spring Head of the River Race was held on the River Weaver on Saturday the 5^th of April. We welcomed local crews from the Grange School and Sir John Deane's College aswell as visiting crews from across the country and the North West. In all 199 boats raced over all three divisions.

This is a very popular event for all ages and abilities as the course is a short 2,350 metres. This year the rowers and scullers were tested by the wintry weather conditions, battling against strong headwinds and sudden, fierce April showers.

Racing commenced with the single scullers division in which 73 boats took to the water with the ages of competitors ranging from 13 to 60 years. NRC returned 3 wins - Jamie Leighton, S2 was the fastest boat winning the division, John Cowan winning S3 finishing 4th overall and Kerry Briggs winning Women's Novice beating her opposition by 1 second.

The 2nd and 3rd divisions included Eights, Fours, coxed and coxless Quads and Doubles. The 2nd division was won by Northwich's Vet D Eight. The crew was very satisfied with their win and gained revenge on the Junior 16 quad from York City who had beaten them at the recent Head race at Chester. The Junior boys had a decisive win against their local rivals Sir John Deane's College winning the Junior coxed Fours.

The Grange School S4 Eight won the 3rd division in 8:46.1. The crew was delighted to be presented the "Walter Benyon Trophy" for the fastest boat of the day by his widow Susan Benyon. The crew, all junior boys, had a very evenly matched race against Liverpool Victoria RC Eight and beat them by 2 seconds. Our Veterans won Vet D coxed Four and the WJ14 coxed quad raced well, convincingly beating their opposition from the Grange School. Northwich Junior girls entered a Novice Eight, however with no opposition in their status the crew set their sights on beating fellow members in a Women's Vet C Eight which included three novice women recruited from the very popular Learn to Row programme. Youth on this occasion was the decisive victor!

Names and times of the winning crews:

Division 1:
- Senior 2 - Jamie Leighton - 9:39.1
- Senior 3 - John Cowan - 9:48.1
- Women's Novice - Kerry Briggs - 12:20.5
Division 2:

Vet D coxed Eight - Robert Jepson, Paul Clay, Doug Pickup, Geoff Sims, George Perrin, Ray Smith, Matthew Hackett, Simon Crochley and cox Jonty Moore.
Junior coxed Four - Matt Evans, Peter Morton, Fraser Dodd, Danny Edge and cox Andrew Morrison

Division 3:

Vet D coxed Four - Doug Pickup, Simon Crouchley, Ray Smith, Pete Holland Lloyd (Derby RC) and cox W Smith
WJ14 coxed quad - Lizzie Bennett, Becky Jones, Beth Wynne, Chloe Weston and cox Katy Heeham

There is a report in the Northwich Guardian and they took the photos above.

Clubhouse Hire

Can't think of a good place for a do, our clubhouse is available for functions or meetings for £25 per evening. Contact Laura for more details. Sorry, no 18ths.

Nathan Jump's Sport Relief Challenge

Meanwhile back at the club one of our youngest athletes, Nathan Jump, 11 years old, in his first year as a Northwich junior sculler set himself a challenge for Sport Relief 2008. On Sunday he rowed 5,000 metres on the River Weaver between Hunts Lock and Vale Royal Lock. Young Nathan showed guts and determination, to complete this challenge in very difficult weather conditions in a single sculling boat. He battled very bravely against a strong, gusting head-wind and rough water. He has raised £ 160 as a donation to Sports Relief. Well done, Nathan!

Head of the River - 2008

Northwich Rowing Club sent three Eights to London for the prestigious Head of the River Race on Saturday the 15^th of March. Over 400 crews from across the UK and the world contest this popular race over four and a half miles from Mortlake to Putney on the Thames. It is a unique opportunity for men of all ages and abilities to race the famous Boat Race course.

The club's representatives varied in ages covering the generations from 16 to 64 years! Andrew Morrison was joined by his older brother James, an NRC member, currently a student at Aberdeen University, to cox the Northwich crews on this challenging course.

All three crews were very satisfied with their race and completed the course in good weather conditions. Two veteran crews raced at Senior 1 status and were joined by the junior boys who raced at Senior 4.

Northwich 1 - SEN 1(Vet D) started 100 finished 208 in 19.59:88 Crew: Bob Jepson, Simon Crouchley, Matt Hackett, Geoff Simms, George Perrin, Paul Clay, John Billows, Doug Pickup and cox E. Smith.
Northwich 2 - SEN 1(Vet E) started 242 finished 369 in 21.51:72 Crew: Tom Kilkenny, Martin Shaw, Andrew Simpson, Simon Bannister, Mike Francis, Steve Warren, Steve Wignall, Nev Hand and cox James Morrison.
Northwich 3 - SNR 4 started 341 finished 375 in 21.59:22 Crew: Alex Riddell, Max Andrews, Joe Anderton, Peter Tolson, George Clarke, Peter Morton, Jack Palmer, Matt Evans and cox Andrew Morrison.

The 26^th Vesta International Veteran Head of River Race due to be raced on Sunday 16^th of March was cancelled due to the dangerous weather conditions which would not have allowed for safe racing and marshalling. The water conditions from Barnes Bridge to Chiswick Pier were very unpleasant due to a strengthening NNW wind with strong gusts and with little hope of improvements, a delay was not even considered. Very disappointing for the crews involved but safety has to come first.