The English Indoor Rowing Championships (EIRC’s) are organised by Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club, with the first event taking place in 1998. This year’s event took place at the National Cycling Centre (Manchester Velodrome) and saw in excess of 700 competitors taking part with ages spanning from 9-82.
Events ranged from 500m, 2,000m (including separate lightweight classes) as well as junior timed events and the team 3,000m discipline with 4 members taking part.
After the WBC mixed relay victory at the British Indoor Rowing Championships in December, it was decided to try and replicate this at the EIRC’s with the team consisting of Andrew Collett, Kate Parkinson, Lucy Rogers and Philip Tonkin. This was Lucy’s first ever trip to Manchester and the city didn’t disappoint…..it was grey and drizzly!
Andrew and Philip (foolishly) decided that the 3km team race wasn’t enough of a challenge so also entered the 500m in the Open and 30+ categories respectively. Unfortunately the race schedule didn’t really assist with this decision as the Open 500m took place at 15.45, the 30+ at 15.55 and the 3km relay event at 16.10!
Undeterred Andrew picked up the Silver medal in 1.23 being pipped by the gold medallist in a time of 1.19. Philip then pulled a 1.25 to come in fourth missing out on the bronze by under 2 seconds.
Adequately warmed up (!) after the 15 minute break, WBC was ready to take on the 5 other teams. Opting for 300 metre intervals the distance was covered in 9.31 (1.35 average splits.) Unfortunately this was only good enough for fourth, 9 seconds behind bronze and 17 seconds behind the gold medal spot (Northwich Rowing Club) who averaged 1.32. With fresh legs, shorter splits and a few training sessions we will be back next year to pick up the Gold.
See below for a split out of the headline times. In particular of note was Samantha Briggs (33) who was competing for the Sub 7 / TRAIN Manchester team. Samantha was the Crossfit Games champion in 2013. She was competing in the lightweight 30-39 category and won the Gold in the 2km with 7.05. Not content with also getting gold in the 500m, she also did it in a World Record time of 1.33!
Other notable performances from the day included:
• Mens Open 2km 6.01
• Mens 60-69 Hwt 2km 6.43
• Mens 70+ Hwt 2km 7.13
• Mens Open Lwt 2km 6.41
• Mens 70+ Lwt 2km 8.04
• Mens 80+ Hwt 2km 9.55
• Mens 80+ Lwt 2km 8.27
• Women’s Open 2km 8.24
• Women’s 30-39 Hwt 2km 7.18
• Women’s 60-69 Hwt 2km 8.04
• Women’s Open Lwt 2km 7.29
• Women’s 30-39 Lwt 2km 7.05
• Women’s 70+ Lwt 2km 9.09
• Women’s 80+ Lwt 2km 10.48
• Mens Open 500m 1.19
• Mens 50+ Hwt 500m 1.20
• Mens Open Lwt 500m 1.26
• Women’s Open 500m 1.41
• Women’s 50+ Hwt 500m 1.47
• Women’s 30+ Lwt 500m 1.33
• Mens J18 2km 6.36
• Mens J16 2km 6.54
• Women’s J18 2km 7.32
• Women’s J16 2km 6.59
• Mens Open Team 3km 8.09 (1.21 splits)
• Women’s Open Team 3km 9.55 (1.39 splits)
• Mens J18 Team 3km 8.26 (1.24 splits)
• Mens J16 Team 3km 8.47 (1.28 splits)
• Mens J14 Team 3km 9.42 (1.37 splits)
• Women’s J18 Team 3km 10.08 (1.41 splits)
• Women’s J16 Team 3km 9.57 (1.39 splits)
Last updated on by Tanya Podinovskaia