91��ɫ

Far and wide: Nations go head to head at the 91��ɫ Club Championships

A week before Home International Rowing Regatta (HIRR), England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales are racing against each other in Nottingham

Entries for the 2025 91��ɫ Club Championships are at a record high. This year the competition boasts its highest ever Junior entry, with a 31% increase in senior entries following the first combined Championships event in 2024.

It’s not a surprise that the increase in racers has brought with it an incredible 162 clubs, travelling from all corners of the UK to take part in four days of racing at Holme Pierrepont Country Park.

Travelling down from Scotland, Colin Williamson is taking on two roles this weekend. As Head Coach of Edinburgh University, he’s keeping an eye on Ollie Plank, racing in the Open Championship Lightweight Single Sculls. He’ll also be picking up a blade himself on Sunday, racing with Alan Sinclair for Inverness RC in the Open Club Double Sculls.

“It’s great to have two such big events back to back at the end of the season, to see if I can keep stepping on.”

“We used to row together 15 years ago. So we just decided that we’d like to get back in a boat together, and this is a good opportunity to do that!”

Ollie is also doubling up, this time on the water. He’s racing the Single on Friday, having finished fourth in the morning’s time trial, and then in the Open Championship Double Sculls event tomorrow. “I’ll be racing the double with Ben Parsonage – I’m quite excited for that. It should be a good race. There’s not much in it for the single after the time trial – about three seconds. So hopefully I’ll be looking at the chance for a medal.”

Scotland has representation across multiple clubs, from the Highlands to the Clyde Valley.

“I came down with my dad, who coaches for the Glasgow Academy – we drove the trailer and it was quite full!”

 

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Heading down the M1 into Yorkshire, the University of Leeds also has a good showing at this year’s Championships, racing across six categories.

Louise Brooks is racing in the Women’s Club Single Sculls event – after placing first in the time trial and winning her A/B Semi Final, she’ll race the A Final on Friday afternoon.

“Being in crew boats all season has been really fun, but it’s nice to get in a single now and see what I can do. I’ve been really lucky to qualify for HIRR next weekend, so the Club Championships is a really good chance for me to race in the single. It’s great to have two such big events back to back at the end of the season, to see if I can keep stepping on.”

Fellow GB Performance Development Academy athlete Bea Hughes is representing the University of Bath this weekend, but next week she’ll also be racing at HIRR – for Wales.

“This weekend I’m racing in the Women’s Championship Double Sculls and the Mixed Club Eight. I’m excited for the double – a little nervous for the eight because we don’t sweep a lot, but it should be fun!”

“It’s bucket rigged – we’ve actually researched it heavily.” Bea joked. The crew will come up against defending Champions Thames RC, who this year are fielding two crews for the event, to battle for the title and a prize pack from Black Sheep Brewery.

Next weekend at HIRR will be Bea’s first time representing Wales. “I’m excited to get the all in one. My family are thrilled!”

Wales also has representation at the Championships through Monmouth Comprehensive School BC, who will be racing a Women’s J18 Four and an Open Club Eight on Saturday.

Entries have come from even further afield. Ireland is represented by Queen’s University Belfast BC in the Open Championship Lightweight Single Sculls, and both Calpe and Mediterranean Rowing Clubs have travelled from Gibraltar.

Julian Christopher Galea has been travelling to England from Gibraltar for the last four years to race at the 91��ɫ Championships. He won gold in the J16 pair for Mediterranean RC at the 2023 91��ɫ Junior Championships in Scotland.

“I absolutely love this event. Ever since 2023, I’ve loved it. Last year we came fifth in the A Final in the J18 pair – I’ll be racing that again tomorrow.”  Julian raced his Open J18 Single Sculls time trial on Friday morning and came 33rd out of an incredible 97 entries.