Lea Regatta set to be ‘oarsome’
(R-L): Joe O’Neill, Will Dewar, Sam Batten, Danny Bartlett in the quarter final race at Henley Royal Regatta.
The words ‘rowing’ and ‘Hackney’ may not come together spontaneously in everyone’s mind, but the waterways that thread their ways through the borough make it an excellent place to pull oars.
And soon local residents will have an opportunity to sample the best aspects of British rowing.
Hackney’s very own spring boat race takes place on Sunday 24 April, organised by the Lea Rowing Club. This annual event in the British rowing calendar attracts clubs from all over the Southeast to come and compete on the Lea.
The race comprises a 600m downstream course, ending at the Lea Rowing Club’s clubhouse, surrounded by the quintessentially English beauty of Clapton.
The race is open to both men and women and to all levels of experience from age 11 upwards.
Race winners receive prestigious River Lea Rowing Club pewter tankards – perfect for the post-race victory beer.
Club Captain Josh Colman-Pecha, said: “The Spring Regatta is the perfect opportunity for Hackney resident’s to come down and watch a live boat race.
“We welcome anyone that wants to come and support the Lea RC on what we hope to be a fun day on the river.”
The Spring Regatta is one of two such events that Lea RC run during the course of the season. The club itself compete at both domestic and international level, and regularly run summer programmes for local schools and young people.
Lea RC has a proud history of training and producing its own young local athletes. Beginners’ courses at the club are open to all people of differing ages and experience. (For more information see the Learn2Row page on the club website listed below).
The club came to be created after the amalgamation of the five local rowing clubs in 1980. Since then the Lea RC has produced successful male and female athletes from junior through to senior age groups in both heavyweight and lightweight categories. The club has won at Henley Royal Regatta on six occasions and won countless National Championship medals.
Lea RC takes its name from its location on the River Lea, at the foot of Spring Hill in Upper Clapton. The club row on a stretch of the Lea which is approximately 7km long, between Tottenham and Old Ford locks.
Whether to row or simply to watch, the regatta is a great chance to enjoy fresh spring air and take in the excitement of what promises to be a hotly-contested race.
To enter the Spring Regatta, send a cheque for £9 per entry, made payable to ‘Lea Rowing Club’ to:
Regatta Secretary
Lea Rowing Club
The Boathouse
Spring Hill,
London E5 9BL
Enquiries:
Sally Lawrence 07740 861 313
sally.lawrence@btinternet.com