The 2025 Lakeland roll of honour
Victorious on the Tees: Liam McCumiskey and Izzie Watson
June
Talkin Tarn Regatta Celia Whittam takes the women’s masters G/I singles title, while Izzie Watson and Erin Boyles win the women’s doubles on only their second time in a boat together. The mixed masters D/E/F doubles final is a wholly Cumbrian affair, contested by Sam Ayers and Nick Cowan, Julia McCumiskey and Graeme Mactavish, and a crew from Windermere RC. It finishes as a dead heat between the two Lakeland boats.
North West and Yorkshire Explore Series At the fourth Explore event of the season, hosted by Liverpool Victoria RC, Lakeland’s Cakeland crew of Lizzie Wyatt, Peri Collins, Maddie Wagstaff and Vix Gibson win three out of their four races.
British Rowing Masters’ Championships It’s silverware all round for Lakeland’s masters rowers. Graeme Mactavish, Nick Cowan, Sam Ayers and Julia McCumiskey receive silver medals in the mixed masters E coxless quads, while Gordon Jack and Celia Whittam, Nick and Sam, and Graeme and Julia do the same in the mixed masters doubles (G, F and E categories respectively) and Celia takes second spot in the women masters G singles.
Trentham Regatta Graeme Mactavish and Julia McCumiskey storm to victory in the open doubles, against far younger opponents, and in the mixed masters E/F doubles.
May
Monmouth Regatta Seb Walker takes first place in the masters A-C quads and open eights as part of Lakeland, Windermere, Upper Thames, City of Cambridge and Monmouth composite crews, the masters F eight beating university students and a young City of Bristol crew.
Tees Regatta Liam McCumiskey and Izzie Watson win the mixed doubles at the Tees RC event, while Liam’s mum, Julia, takes the mixed masters E crown with Graeme Mactavish.
Nottingham Masters and Club Regatta Nick Cowan and Sam Ayers triumph in the mixed masters F doubles.
Durham City Sprint Regatta Celia Whittam and Gordon Jack take first place in the open masters F/G doubles, while Gordon wins the open masters G singles.
April
Strathclyde medallists, Sam (left), Nick, Gordon, Celia, Julia and Graeme
Scottish Rowing Spring Regatta Celia Whittam takes gold in the women’s masters F/G singles at the Strathclyde Park event, while Gordon Jack finishes with bronze in the open masters G/H/I singles. Together they win silver in the open masters G/H doubles. Julia McCumiskey and Graeme Mactavish win silver in the open masters E/F doubles, while bronze goes to Sam Ayers and Nick Cowan.
Concept2 British record Celia Whittam sets her third GB indoor rowing record of the year for heavyweight women aged 65-69, covering 100m in a very impressive 19 seconds dead.
March
Concept2 10-million-metres club Gordon Jack passes the 10-million-metres indoor rowing milestone in a gym overlooking the Yarra River and downtown Melbourne while in Australia for his son’s wedding.
Concept2 British record Celia Whittam sets another indoor rowing GB record for heavyweight women aged 65-69, covering 1000m in 3 minutes 50.5 seconds. She currently leads the world rankings for 1000m and, after setting her previous record in February, 500m.
Yorkshire Head Julia McCumiskey and Graeme Mactavish repeat last year’s victory, winning the mixed masters B/E/F and open masters E/F doubles at the event hosted by York City RC.
February
Head of Bridgewater Julia McCumiskey and Graeme Mactavish take first place in the open masters D/E and open doubles categories at the event run by Trafford RC.
World Rowing Indoor Championships Celia Whittam wins gold in the heavyweight women’s 500m age 65-69 category in the online event. Her time of 1 minute 46.4 seconds gives her a third consecutive victory and is three seconds faster than her 2024 time.
Back in December, in qualifying for the championships, Celia broke the British record. Her time for the actual event is a new record.
Sam Ayers wins silver in the lightweight women’s 50-54 age group in 1 minute 45.3 seconds.
On the second weekend of the event, Sam takes bronze in the lightweight women’s 50-54 2000m in seven minutes 50.8 seconds.
Durham Small Boats Head Julia McCumiskey and Graeme Mactavish win the open masters E doubles, while Sam Ayers and Nick Cowan take the open masters F/H category at the event hosted by Durham ARC.