Leeds Rowing Club
Encyclopedia
Leeds Rowing Club is a British Rowing affiliated club in the city of Leeds
, West Yorkshire. It was founded in 2006 and is based in Roundhay Park
, to the north of the City centre.
rowed on the River Ouse
in York
. Leeds Rowing Club is the first open membership rowing club in the city, and caters for adults and juniors of all abilities.
, Leeds. The boathouse is beneath the Lakeside Cafe, with an additional clubhouse providing changing and training facilities. The club races in fours, quads, doubles, pairs and single sculls with a fleet of fine racing shells and several training boats.
In Summer 2010 the club successfully secured a grant from Sport England, to buy a coxless quad, an additional training boat and several new rowing machines.
and Metropolitan Regatta
. The club attends many events in the Yorkshire and Northeast regions, and competes in head races between September and March.
The club sent crews to Henley Women's Regatta
and Henley Royal Regatta
for the first time, and the performances at these events established Leeds RC as one of the more successful clubs in the North of England.
At Henley Women's, a two lane regatta over 1500m, raced over 3 days, Leeds had three entries. In the Senior single sculls, Kristine Johnson was representing Leeds RC and produced a series of magnificent performances to win the competition. She secured comfortable wins in the opening rounds over her opponents, firstly from the Isle of Ely BC on June 15th and then Cardiff Uni BC on June 16th. In the semi-final on June 17th, she beat her opponent from Bath Uni by two-and-a-half lengths, and later in the day raced a close final against a sculler from Wallingford, winning the race by one length in a superb time of 6:02. In the Intermediate Club coxed fours starting on June 15th, the Leeds crew produced one of their best performances but couldn't keep up with the strong Sons Of The Thames crew, losing by 3 lengths, and their opponents went on to make the semi-final in the competition. In the Senior coxless quads starting on June 16th, the Leeds RC crew raced strongly and beat their Worcester opponents easily in the first round. Their second round opponents, a composite crew from Sport Imperial BC, Imperial College BC and London RC proved tougher opposition, and the Leeds crew couldn't keep with their opponents who had the luxury of being fresher for the race, having received a bye through the first round.
At Henley Royal Regatta, held on the same water as Henley Women's but 2112m (officially 1 mile, 550 yards) long, and raced over 5 days, Leeds had two crews entered. Kristine Johnson returned to Henley to race against some of the top single scullers from around the world, producing a magnificent performance to achieve one of only two qualifying spots in the qualification time-trials. Johnson was drawn against US national rower Gevvie Stone of Cambridge (USA) Boat Club, 2010 runner-up in this event and one of the top scullers from the USA. Johnson raced well but her opponent proved too strong, winning by four lengths. Stone again went on to make the final of the event. In the Wyfold Challenge Cup for coxless fours, Leeds RC's first men's crew was entered. No crews were required to qualify for this event, and Leeds were drawn against their local counterparts from Bradford ARC in the first round. The first of five rounds in the event took place on Wednesday June 29th. Despite a poor start, where Leeds lost three-quarters of a length very quickly, and trailing at the first timing marker, Leeds picked it up and rowed through Bradford, winning by a relatively comfortable two-and-a-quarter lengths. In the second round the next day, Leeds raced Henley RC's "B" crew, who had beaten a crew from Thames RC in round 1. After a close start with the crews neck-and-neck at the end of Temple Island, the crew from Henley, racing on home water, started to pull away. With significant support for Leeds on the bank, the race remained close but Henley produced a more solid race to win by two lengths in a time of 7:21.
At Peterborough Regatta over the weekend of August 13th/14th, Leeds RC won 9 senior events (one in a composite crew) and one junior event, meaning the club was the most successful of all visiting clubs to the regatta and were therefore awarded the Victor Ludorum. Over 1000m on Saturday 13th August, crews won Open IM1 coxed fours (course record time for this event), Open IM2 coxless pairs (composite with Tyne United RC), Women's IM3 coxed fours and Women's Novice double sculls. On Sunday 14th August, crews won Women's IM2 coxed fours, Open IM3 coxless pairs, Open IM3 single sculls, Women's IM3 coxed fours, Women's IM3 coxless quadruple sculls and Junior 15 double sculls (course record time for this event). 24 club members celebrated victories in winning crews, and many others managed to make finals.
On October 29th the club sent four crews to the Head of the Dee in Chester
. The best performance was a win for the J16 double scull, with the Men's IM2 4+ missing out by 3 seconds in their event after clashing with a Lancaster University crew whom they were overtaking.
On November 5th, a Men's IM2 coxed four raced at the Head of the River Fours
on the Thames in London
, from Mortlake
to Putney
. The event is raced on the same course as the Boat Race, but in the opposite direction. The crew completed the 6.8km (four-and-a-quarter mile) course in 20 minutes 56.44 seconds, which placed them 178th overall and 15th out of 65 in the IM2 coxed four category. This was a 95 position improvement in the rankings over the 2010 position of 273rd.
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, West Yorkshire. It was founded in 2006 and is based in Roundhay Park
Roundhay Park
Roundhay Park in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, is one of the biggest city parks in Europe. It has over of parkland, lakes, woodland and gardens which are owned by Leeds City Council. The park is one of the most popular attractions in Leeds, nearly a million people visit each year...
, to the north of the City centre.
History
Up until 2006, there were no clubs rowing in Leeds. Leeds Schools Boat Club were no longer in operation, and Leeds University Boat ClubLeeds University Boat Club
Leeds University Union Boat Club is an ARA and BUCS affiliated sculling and sweep-oared rowing sports club based at the University of Leeds.-History:The club was founded in 1912...
rowed on the River Ouse
River Ouse, Yorkshire
The River Ouse is a river in North Yorkshire, England. The river is formed from the River Ure at Cuddy Shaw Reach near Linton-on-Ouse, about 6 miles downstream of the confluence of the River Swale with the River Ure...
in York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
. Leeds Rowing Club is the first open membership rowing club in the city, and caters for adults and juniors of all abilities.
Facilities
The club rows on the 800m Waterloo Lake, in Roundhay ParkRoundhay Park
Roundhay Park in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, is one of the biggest city parks in Europe. It has over of parkland, lakes, woodland and gardens which are owned by Leeds City Council. The park is one of the most popular attractions in Leeds, nearly a million people visit each year...
, Leeds. The boathouse is beneath the Lakeside Cafe, with an additional clubhouse providing changing and training facilities. The club races in fours, quads, doubles, pairs and single sculls with a fleet of fine racing shells and several training boats.
In Summer 2010 the club successfully secured a grant from Sport England, to buy a coxless quad, an additional training boat and several new rowing machines.
Races
The club competes in regatta and head races across the UK, with recent wins at Peterborough Regatta, Durham RegattaDurham Regatta
Durham Regatta is the premier rowing event in the North East of England, held each year on the second weekend in June on the River Wear which provides a picturesque setting for regattas and head races....
and Metropolitan Regatta
Metropolitan Regatta
The Metropolitan Regatta is an international rowing regatta. It takes place on Dorney Lake, Buckinghamshire near Eton next to the River Thames in southern England. It attracts crews from schools, clubs and universities from around the United Kingdom, Europe and the USA...
. The club attends many events in the Yorkshire and Northeast regions, and competes in head races between September and March.
2011 Regatta Season
In Summer 2011, the club managed great success with wins at a number of regattas including Nottingham, Durham City, Bradford, St. Neots and Peterborough. Crews also raced at Wallingford, Poplar and Durham.The club sent crews to Henley Women's Regatta
Henley Women's Regatta
Henley Women's Regatta is a rowing regatta held at Henley-on-Thames, England. It was formed as a result of the lack of women's events at Henley Royal Regatta and first held in 1988...
and Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
for the first time, and the performances at these events established Leeds RC as one of the more successful clubs in the North of England.
At Henley Women's, a two lane regatta over 1500m, raced over 3 days, Leeds had three entries. In the Senior single sculls, Kristine Johnson was representing Leeds RC and produced a series of magnificent performances to win the competition. She secured comfortable wins in the opening rounds over her opponents, firstly from the Isle of Ely BC on June 15th and then Cardiff Uni BC on June 16th. In the semi-final on June 17th, she beat her opponent from Bath Uni by two-and-a-half lengths, and later in the day raced a close final against a sculler from Wallingford, winning the race by one length in a superb time of 6:02. In the Intermediate Club coxed fours starting on June 15th, the Leeds crew produced one of their best performances but couldn't keep up with the strong Sons Of The Thames crew, losing by 3 lengths, and their opponents went on to make the semi-final in the competition. In the Senior coxless quads starting on June 16th, the Leeds RC crew raced strongly and beat their Worcester opponents easily in the first round. Their second round opponents, a composite crew from Sport Imperial BC, Imperial College BC and London RC proved tougher opposition, and the Leeds crew couldn't keep with their opponents who had the luxury of being fresher for the race, having received a bye through the first round.
At Henley Royal Regatta, held on the same water as Henley Women's but 2112m (officially 1 mile, 550 yards) long, and raced over 5 days, Leeds had two crews entered. Kristine Johnson returned to Henley to race against some of the top single scullers from around the world, producing a magnificent performance to achieve one of only two qualifying spots in the qualification time-trials. Johnson was drawn against US national rower Gevvie Stone of Cambridge (USA) Boat Club, 2010 runner-up in this event and one of the top scullers from the USA. Johnson raced well but her opponent proved too strong, winning by four lengths. Stone again went on to make the final of the event. In the Wyfold Challenge Cup for coxless fours, Leeds RC's first men's crew was entered. No crews were required to qualify for this event, and Leeds were drawn against their local counterparts from Bradford ARC in the first round. The first of five rounds in the event took place on Wednesday June 29th. Despite a poor start, where Leeds lost three-quarters of a length very quickly, and trailing at the first timing marker, Leeds picked it up and rowed through Bradford, winning by a relatively comfortable two-and-a-quarter lengths. In the second round the next day, Leeds raced Henley RC's "B" crew, who had beaten a crew from Thames RC in round 1. After a close start with the crews neck-and-neck at the end of Temple Island, the crew from Henley, racing on home water, started to pull away. With significant support for Leeds on the bank, the race remained close but Henley produced a more solid race to win by two lengths in a time of 7:21.
At Peterborough Regatta over the weekend of August 13th/14th, Leeds RC won 9 senior events (one in a composite crew) and one junior event, meaning the club was the most successful of all visiting clubs to the regatta and were therefore awarded the Victor Ludorum. Over 1000m on Saturday 13th August, crews won Open IM1 coxed fours (course record time for this event), Open IM2 coxless pairs (composite with Tyne United RC), Women's IM3 coxed fours and Women's Novice double sculls. On Sunday 14th August, crews won Women's IM2 coxed fours, Open IM3 coxless pairs, Open IM3 single sculls, Women's IM3 coxed fours, Women's IM3 coxless quadruple sculls and Junior 15 double sculls (course record time for this event). 24 club members celebrated victories in winning crews, and many others managed to make finals.
2011-2012 Head Season
Leeds RC kicked off the head season in 2011 at Nottingham Autumn Head on October 16th. Seven boats were entered, and the most notable performance was the Men's Novice 4+ winning their category.On October 29th the club sent four crews to the Head of the Dee in Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
. The best performance was a win for the J16 double scull, with the Men's IM2 4+ missing out by 3 seconds in their event after clashing with a Lancaster University crew whom they were overtaking.
On November 5th, a Men's IM2 coxed four raced at the Head of the River Fours
Head of the River Fours
The Fuller's Head of the River Fours is a processional rowing race held annually on the Tideway of the River Thames in London on the 4¼ mile Championship Course from Mortlake to Putney.-History:...
on the Thames in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, from Mortlake
Mortlake
Mortlake is a district of London, England and part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is on the south bank of the River Thames between Kew and Barnes with East Sheen inland to the south. Mortlake was part of Surrey until 1965.-History:...
to Putney
Putney
Putney is a district in south-west London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
. The event is raced on the same course as the Boat Race, but in the opposite direction. The crew completed the 6.8km (four-and-a-quarter mile) course in 20 minutes 56.44 seconds, which placed them 178th overall and 15th out of 65 in the IM2 coxed four category. This was a 95 position improvement in the rankings over the 2010 position of 273rd.