Brigg Matters Issue 63 Winter 2021

Ancholme Rowing Club
Jim Copson
As covid restrictions were relaxed earlier in the year, the
club re-opened first of all to single scullers and single
household groups. This progressed to larger boats and
mixed household groups as the rules on social gatherings
were changed. July 19th saw the lifting of all social
distancing restrictions so the club was able to return
to something like normality. It was decided to keep the
club gym and changing facilities closed because of the
restricted indoor space. Land-based training was held
outside, and still is up to the time of writing.
We have seen a surge in new members since lockdown,
both adults and juniors. Anticipating this might happen,
the club decided to invest in more equipment to cope
with the demand.
A good quality
second hand
eight was bought
from Oxford
University last
year. As the
increase in
membership
materialised
another second
hand eight was
bought, this time
from Aberdeen
University. Added
to these were a
brand new single
training boat,
especially suited
to junior rowers
and a racing
single scull,
donated by a former member. Two more rowing machines
have been added to our fleet bringing the total to ten.
As funds become available these machines are being
overhauled and upgraded with the latest monitors.
Taking advantage of the fine late summer weather, a
boat-naming ceremony was held after a Sunday club
session. The two new eights and the racing single
received new names. The former Oxford boat was
renamed ‘Diana Letts’ in honour of club coach Penny
Barker’s late mother, who left the club a legacy in her
will. The ex-Aberdeen boat was renamed ‘Jim Copson II’
and the racing single, ‘Isabel’. The training boat hadn’t
arrived at the time of writing so will be named at a later
date. Those in attendance were then treated to a lunch of
chilli con carne prepared by club members.
As rowing opened up throughout the summer, the club
attended three regattas. Two crews competed at the
National Veterans’ Regatta at Nottingham. Despite
putting up creditable performances, neither crew
came home with a medal. It was a different story at
the Northern Sprint Championships where our junior
members did us proud. Harry Denton won the Junior
Single Sculls. Lottie Glover and Teresa Timms won the
Junior Women’s Double Sculls. These performances
were especially
notable as the
conditions on
Hollingworth
Lake were
atrocious to
put it mildly.
The more
experienced
crews struggled
with the strong
wind and
choppy water.
Next up was
Bradford
Regatta, held in
the picturesque
surroundings
of Saltaire.
Harry and Lottie
were again in
the medals,
winning their respective single sculls. The senior squad
redeemed themselves by winning the Mixed Eights and
the Women’s Coxed Fours.
Our own competition, The Ancholme Head, was held on
10th October attracting over a hundred crews from as
far afield as Manchester, Sheffield, Leicester, Doncaster,
Lincoln and Derby. Blessed with calm, sunny weather,
club winners were Harry (again) in the Junior Singles
and Ron Norton and Darren Earley in the Veteran Coxless
Pairs.
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