[L]akeland Rowing Club put in a multi medal-winning performance at the North of England Sprint Rowing Championships on Saturday.
Thirteen crews from the Derwentwater club competed in ten categories in the annual regatta held at Rochdale’s Hollingworth Lake, racing in eight finals and bringing home winners’ honours in five.
The women’s Masters coxless quad of Julia McCumiskey, from Keswick, Victoria Lancaster, from Bassenthwaite, Sam Ayers, from Eaglesfield and Alex Morgan, from Cockermouth, comfortably defended the title they won last year in the D category (average age 50-54) final.
Victoria and Alex also triumphed in the mixed Masters coxless quad E/F category (average age 55-64), with Lakeland chairman Chris Pratt, from Portinscale, and Stefan Escreet, also from Bassenthwaite, despite having to make up a four-second time handicap on their opposition over the 500-metre course.
Gordon Jack, from Greysouthern, also enjoyed two victories, the first in the men’s Masters E (age 55-59) single sculls, rowing in a boat previously owned by double Olympic champion James Cracknell. Gordon later teamed up with Celia Whittam, from Troutbeck, to enjoy a comfortable victory in the mixed Masters D/F (age 50-64) double sculls.
The final Lakeland medal of the day went to James Waterfield, from Whitehaven, in the men’s Band 3 (open age category) single sculls. David Thomas, from Keswick, also won his semi to join James in a hard-fought three-way race.
The club’s other semi-final winners were Celia in the women’s Masters E/F single sculls, and Julia and Sam in the women’s Masters C (age 43-49) double sculls.
Club chairman Chris said: “Our squad certainly did the area proud with a good medal haul and a solid demonstration of its strength in depth. For Lakeland RC, it’s onward to the ‘head’ season now – effectively time trials over longer distances – to try to continue our good fortune.”
Beginners or returning rowers who would like to know more about opportunities at Lakeland can visit www.lakelandrowingclub.com or find the club on Facebook – just search for the Lakeland Rowing Club page.
