WARRINGTON Rowing Club’s annual Regatta returned to the River Mersey attracting a strong field of oarsmen and women competing in more than 150 race events.
Special guests on a fine day for racing included Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols who is working with the club to improve their clubhouse facilities on the banks of the Mersey at Kingsway Bridge.
Charlotte said: “I’m working with them on new facilities but, in spite of what they currently have, in the quality of the athletes coming through the club (including Olympian Lucy Glover) it’s clear its people are it’s biggest asset!”
Rowing is believed to have taken place on the Mersey at Warrington for more than 200 years and the origins of the Warrington Regatta date from more than 160 years ago, when large crowds of spectators were attracted.
The present club was formed in the mid-1980s, originally based at The Old Quay Tavern.
In the late 1980s the pub changed hands and the club was given notice. This provided the incentive for the club to acquire its own boathouse on land next to Kingsway Bridge, leased from the borough council.
The boathouse was opened in 1989 on the morning of that year’s regatta. It consisted of three old pre-fabs erected in a line.
During the 90’s a lottery grant helped extend the boathouse and gym and provided a good stock of boats.
The club now has strong links with Lymm High School which help produce latest Olmpian Rower Lucy Glover and over the years they have produced some other outstanding oarsmen and women.
Since the establishment of the junior section the club has become one of the leading centres of junior rowing in the UK.
Olivia Oakes was a product of Project Oarsome and she would develop to win National Titles and represent Great Britain at Junior and Under 23 Level.
The junior section has always needed a lot of coaching and several names are worthy of note for their long service. Richard Sinnott, Martin Goswell, Andy McGlown and Emma Dunbavand, a young lady who had been a Project Oarsome junior at
Lymm High School in the 00’s.
Later developments at the club would see the arrival of recreational rowing. This is a scheme to encourage adults to come and have a row and enjoy the sport without having to submit to the rigors of competitive rowing.
New changing rooms were commissioned in early 2012.
Warrington Regatta – oh yes! pic.twitter.com/XW6W6l0SHw
— WarringtonRowingClub (@WarringtonRowC) July 24, 2021
Tyne RC hit the Mersey! pic.twitter.com/bxDCWdJvmW
— WarringtonRowingClub (@WarringtonRowC) July 24, 2021
It's a beautiful day for the @WarringtonRowC Regatta!
I'm working with them on new facilities but, in spite of what they currently have, in the quality of the athletes coming through the club (including Olympian Lucy Glover) it's clear its people are it's biggest asset ❤️ pic.twitter.com/vrpjA080Yn
— Charlotte Nichols (@charlotte2153) July 24, 2021
