Royal Chester Rowing Club celebrated the 185th anniversary of the founding of the club and the success of their men’s first eight over the winter rowing season at a boat naming ceremony on Sunday 16 April.
There are three major long distance events in the winter calendar, the first, the Head of the Trent at Nottingham. Here the crew won by 17 seconds beating entries from Bristol, Agecroft and Leeds rowing clubs. The crew then went on to win the North of England Head of the River Race on the Dee for a second consecutive year. Finally, the eight competed at the Head of the River Race on the Thames against more than 300 crews over the Oxbridge Boat Race Course. Royal Chester 1st eight placed 24th overall, winning the Jackson Trophy awarded to the fastest club crew from outside the Thames valley area. Royal Chester RC also had their men’s 2nd and 3rd eights competing in the event which placed 113th and 217th overall, for some of the crew in these boats it was the first time competing in London at this prestigious event having come through the learn to row course at Royal Chester RC.
Training now focuses on sprint racing over 2000m for both the Royal Chester senior men and women’s squads, culminating at Henley Royal Regatta in July.
Three new boats were also named at the event after club members in recognition of their significant contribution to the club’s development, including President ‘Bonner’ (John) Davies, former Chair Jack (John) McGarva and former Captain Michal Palamarczuk.
