The 2023 Lakeland roll of honour

Jacob Griffiths of Lakeland’s winning J15 double at Hexham Regatta

December

Gordon (left), Sam and Nick before their races at BRIC23

British Rowing Indoor Championships Sam Ayers takes gold at 500m in the lightweight women masters age 50-54 class with a personal best of 1:42:6. She also wins at 2000m in 7:49:8 at the event held at the NEC in Birmingham. Gordon Jack is fifth in the open masters 2000m age 65-69 class, finishing in 7:45:5, while Nick Cowan comes seventh at the distance in age 60-64 in 7:01:0.

October

Grosvenor captain Pete Abbott with winners Sheila, Stefan and Craig

North West and Yorkshire Explore Series Lambs to the Water – made up of Stefan Thompson, Craig Wagstaff, Sharolyn Parnham, Andrew Butcher and Sheila Wood, coxed by Celia Whittam – win three out of their five races at the event hosted by Chester’s Grosvenor RC, giving Lakeland the overall championship by a single point ahead of Hollingworth RC.

Reflecting on the year, Sheila says: ‘We have enjoyed such great hospitality, rowed in scorching sun and torrential rain, experienced wins and losses, car crashes, route diversions and journey times ranging from one to four hours. It all adds up to a memorable season.’

York Autumn Sculls Graeme Mactavish and Julia McCumiskey take the open masters E/F/G doubles and mixed masters C/E doubles at the event hosted by York City RC.

Ancholme Head Andy Richardson wins the open masters G/H singles at Ancholme RC.

September

Monster the Loch David Ferrier, Steve Lawson, David Pratt, Julia and Graeme (from left above, with piper), with logistical support from Claire Lawson, complete the monumental 33km annual Loch Ness race in an impressive 14th place, out of 120 starters, in just two hours, 50 minutes.

World Rowing Masters Regatta Gordon glides to victory in the men’s G singles, contested over 1000m, in Tshwane, South Africa, an impressive 4.5 seconds ahead of his closest rival.

North West and Yorkshire Explore Series Two Lakeland crews compete at the penultimate Explore event of the season, hosted by Lancaster’s John O’Gaunt RC.

Lambs to the Water – Stefan, David Ferrier, Chloe O’Hare and Lizzie Wyatt coxed by Celia – win six out of six races, while Cakeland – Andrew, Sharolyn, Anna Hornakova and Karen Wagstaff with Sheila – competing together for the first time this year, also put in a sterling performance.

North of England Sprint Championships The club chalks up three wins at the prestigious annual event hosted by Hollingworth Lake RC. James Waterfield and Simon Bamforth take the open masters A doubles, Steve Lawson and Alex Hill triumph in the E/F category, and Celia and Gordon win the mixed masters G doubles.

August

North West and Yorkshire Explore Series Craig Wagstaff, Stefan, Lizzie and Sheila (above, from left) win all four of their races at the event hosted by Warrington RC.

July

Talkin Tarn Regatta Junior honours go to Jacob Griffiths in the open J15 singles, and Izzie Watson and Luca Regan-Teasdale (above) in the mixed schools doubles.

Simon, James, Steve and Alex take the open masters B/C coxless quads, while Steve and Claire, Julia and Alex do the same in the mixed masters D/E/F coxless quads. Julia and Graeme also win the mixed and open masters E/F doubles.

June

British Rowing Masters’ Championships On a hot day with challenging water at Nottingham’s National Water Sports Centre, Julia and Graeme win silver and Sam and Nick take bronze in the mixed masters E doubles, while Celia wins silver in the women’s masters G/H singles.

Hexham Regatta Robert Penkett (cox), Edward Copeland, Sam Hill, Josh Griffiths and Jake Leech Sanders (pictured left to right) take the J14 coxed quad title, while Robert and Jacob Griffiths win the J15 doubles, Celia triumphs in the women’s masters E/F/G singles and Julia and Graeme win the open masters E/F/G doubles.

May

North West and Yorkshire Explore Series The Lakeland squad of Craig, Stefan, Lizzie, Sheila, Karen and Fiona Hammond win four out of four races at the event hosted by Runcorn RC, while Chloe O’Hare lends her skills to Lancaster’s John O’Gaunt squad, speeding them to victory when she takes the stroke seat.

Tees Regatta The club fields an impressive 14 crews and enjoys six wins. The honours go to Edward and Sam in the open J14 doubles, James Leech Sanders in the open J16 singles, Julia and Graeme in open masters E doubles and mixed masters E/G, Alex and Steve in open masters D/E doubles and Alex, Steve, James Waterfield and Simon in open masters C/D/E coxless quads.

Nottingham City Regatta Sam Ayers and Nick win the mixed masters E doubles.

April

Scottish Rowing Spring Regatta Lakeland returns from the event held at Strathclyde Park with an impressive medal haul of one gold, four silvers and three bronzes.

Gordon wins gold in the open masters G/H/I singles. Silvers go to Nick in open masters F, Celia in women’s masters F/G, Julia and Graeme in open masters E/F doubles, and Celia and Gordon in open masters G/H, while Nick comes third in open masters E/F doubles with Sam Ayers.

North West and Yorkshire Explore Series Hosted by Liverpool Victoria RC in the city’s docks, George Coldham, Craig, Stefan and Sheila, coxed by Fiona, win all five of their races.

March

North West and Yorkshire Explore Series In the first event of the season, hosted by Leeds RC, Fiona, George, Craig, Stefan, Sharolyn, Karen and Lizzy May (above, from left) win three out of their four races.

February

World Rowing Indoor Championships Celia takes gold and silver in the women’s age 65 to 69 category at the virtual event hosted from Toronto in Canada.

She triumphs in the 500m race in a time of 1 minute 48.2 seconds, finishing almost three seconds ahead of her closest rival, and bags second place at 2000m in 8 min 18.7 sec.

Durham Small Boats Head Julia and Graeme win the open masters doubles title at the Durham ARC head.

January

Tyne United New Year’s Head Julia and Graeme enjoy success for a second year at the event, this time taking top honours in the open E/F/G/I doubles.