Learn to row to the start line: Journey to British Rowing Club Championships

From first strokes to the start line, hear all about Kiera Williams’ phenomenal journey to British Rowing Club Championships

Credit: AllMarkOne

In September last year, Kiera Williams sat in a boat for the first time. She made the trip to Star Club, on the banks of the Great Ouse, as part of the club’s Learn to Row course. Star Club has a rich and proud history, with many outstanding athletes calling it home, including Olympic Champion Tim Foster who took gold in the Men’s Coxless Four in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

I would certainly recommend giving the Learn to Row course a go wherever you live in the country.

Of the back of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Star Club took part in a nationwide campaign to increase Learn to Row opportunities. The club was proud to support the next generation of talented young athletes taking their first strokes in the sport – Kiera was a fast learner and enjoyed spending time in a single scull.

After a long winter followed by sun-baked miles on the Ouse throughout the spring and summer, the Star Club rower is now taking part in her first-ever competition. Lining up in the Women’s Beginner Single Sculls at the British Rowing Club Championships, and Kiera was raring to go.

“It’s a big deal to be here today, and I’m super excited. It’s all part of the learning experience. I’ve loved learning to row, and the club is so welcoming to all ages and abilities” said Kiera.

The beginner has enjoyed it so much that she’s not the only member of her family to take to the water!

“My dad is currently going through the Star Club Learn to Row course. It’s been really nice to have him down at the club rowing too, and it’s great to have my parents here today. I would certainly recommend giving the Learn to Row course a go wherever you live in the country.”

If you’re interested in giving rowing a go, you can find out where your closest Learn to Row course is here.

Watch the races back on Champs Live! 

Rainy spells and close calls on day two at the British Rowing Club Championships

The rain didn’t keep the excitement on the course away on the second day of racing at the British Rowing Club Championships

The Women’s J18 Eights Final offered an early battle down the track – only 0.5 seconds separating the top three crews, with Marlow RC coming out on top.

Not wanting to be left out, the Women’s Club Eight final also provided a tight fight to the line with only 0.3 seconds separating the medaling crews: Auriol Kensington RC, Sudbury RC, and Cambridge University BC.

Elena Pope, who was sitting in the six seat in the victorious Auriol Kensington RC crew, reflected on the race and the crew’s season: “Winning feels amazing, having the medal around my neck and also being given a dryrobe is a great way to end the day. We’ve been building our experience throughout the season, and we’ve had some good races. I’m super proud of the girls, we can’t wait for next year!”

Representing the third place crew, Gemma King, president of Cambridge University BC, said: “It’s great that the crew have medalled, as it’s the first time racing on a course like this for a few of them. They raced hard, and I’m very proud of them.”

It was a second gold for Quinn Moseley from Durham Amateur RC, who claimed the J18 Single Sculls win during Friday’s racing. Racing in his own age category, he won Saturday’s J16 Single Sculls in style. Smiling on the medal pontoon, Quinn said: “I was very tired after yesterday, but it was a very good race. I’m really happy to come away with two medals. I’ve put a lot of work in, and it’s nice to see it pay off. I’m looking forward to some rest now!”

“I’ve only been rowing for ten months, so to be coming to a competition like this one and winning a medal means a lot.”

Quinn’s coach, Martin Tyler, said: “I couldn’t be more proud. It’s been a hard journey, but he’s had a fantastic season. He won GB vs France last weekend, he got a silver in the National Schools competition two weeks ago, although he’s two years below that age group. We’re very much looking forward to the U19 programme next year. I just need to push him on; he’s very keen to learn. A super athlete with very supportive parents. The whole club is very proud of him.”

In another Single Sculls event, Dom Hartley from Nottingham RC secured the Open Beginner win on home water. “I feel better now than I did when I went over the finish line, as I’ve managed to get my breath back!” Dom, an athlete on the East Midlands Performance Development Academy, started rowing in November. “I’ve only been rowing for ten months, so to be coming to a competition like this one and winning a medal means a lot. It showcases the amazing work of the GB Performance Development Academy, to develop me.”

In the Women’s Club Quadruple Sculls, Warrington RC finished in first, but all eyes were on the fight for second. Nottingham RC and Nottinghamshire County RC faced a photo finish result – with the win going to Nottingham RC.

In the Open J18 Double Sculls, Windsor Boys School BC once again continued their history of medalling in this event. Head Coach Mark Wilkinson was exceedingly proud of the crew.

“It feels glorious to be back and see more competitors in the Mixed Champ Eight event, raising the standard.”

“Both Adam and Arjun are in Upper Sixth. They’ve been rowing for five years, and they’ve been utterly outstanding. Adam was in our second boat at Henley this year, and Argen was in our eight. They’ve been highly supportive of the rest of the club and focused on their own training and targets. It’s their last Brit Champs – and an incredible way to finish.”

Eights closed out the second day of racing. In the Mixed Championship Eights, Thames RC defended their title. Repeating her win from last year, Women’s Captain Rosa Millard was thrilled crossing the line. “It feels glorious to be back and see more competitors in this event, raising the standard. It’s been a year since I’ve been in the Mixed Eight! We were faster than last year, and a bit more prepared. A few of us are returners from last year’s win – we’ve got that returning spirit!”

Hot on their heels came the Open J18 Eights and Open Club Eights. Claires Court BC took the win in the junior event over local rivals Reading Blue Coat School BC – Leeds RC took the bronze medal. “We were pretty even at the 500m, then we slowly pulled away and got better and better through the race. This is our second session as a full crew, in a brand new boat to see how fast we can go!”

It was a nail-biting final in the final race of the day, as Hereford secured gold medals in the Open, as the sun eventually came out to end a jam-packed day of racing. Cox Lucy Head said: “We stuck to our race plan and when we needed it, we responded to the push from City of Cambridge RC. We got silver last year in the Club Eights, so we’ve come back next year and nailed it to get that gold medal. Let’s wait and see if we can defend next year!”

The Championships continues tomorrow and day 3 will see boat classes including women’s beginner single sculls, and women’s and open club coxed fours.

Catch up on today’s racing on Champs Live!

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Elite facilities are the norm across Tarleton State University, and for Tarleton State Athletics, another game-changing facility opened on Friday that will service Tarleton State’s student-athletes.
 
In a special ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday morning at Wisdom Gym in Stephenville, Tarleton State opened its state-of-the-art Texans Athletic Performance Center, an all-sport strength and conditioning space.
 
“This is a strategic investment in the student-athlete, the development there-of, it’s going to enhance recruitment, it’s going to elevate program prestige and overall competitive success at the Division I level,” Tarleton State President Dr. James Hurley said. “It’s also keeping our promise to be excellent in all things here at Tarleton State, and you all know it’s always grounded in academic success.”
 
Hundreds of Tarleton State student-athletes were onsite to help open the Texans Athletic Performance Center on Friday, a space that has replaced Wisdom Volleyball Gym. Texan Volleyball’s permanent home is now Wisdom Gym, and both Texan Basketball programs will move into the EECU Center soon.
 
“Make no mistake, this is one of the premier athletic performance centers in the country, and a game-changer for Texan Athletics,” Vice President and Director of Athletics Steve Uryasz said. “I want to sincerely thank President Hurley for his unwavering commitment to athletics. This incredible facility wouldn’t have been possible without his vision and leadership.”
 
The Texans Athletic Performance Center is an 8,000-square foot space with 32-foot ceilings that offers resistance training, cardiovascular options, a plyometric area, injury accommodation, technology for assessment, technology for databasing, athlete hydration, plus office space for Tarleton State Athletic Performance staff.

Natural light has been added to the space with the addition of windows on the south wall of the facility, as studies show this improves the functionality of the space and athlete performance.
 
The equipment selected can accommodate up to 65 athletes in a single session, per industry standard recommendations. The equipment is best in class for durability, longevity, and safety, including 21 racks in the space.
 
Amenities include a special nutrition bar in the space to keep student-athletes fueled and hydrated, plus a state-of-the-art sound reinforcement system that provides for rich quality sound, and multi-function video screens that can play educational presentations, workouts, leaderboards, along with enhancing recruiting visits with highlight videos. There will also be show lights that are synchronized with music to further elevate the performance center.
 

Racing off to a fiery start at the British Rowing Club Championships 2025

Warm weather and calm conditions greeted competitors and spectators on day one of four at this year’s Championships

Credit: AllMarkOne

0.3 seconds separated first and second place in the first time trial of the day (Women’s Club Single Sculls) at Holme Pierrepont Country Park, Nottingham. A fitting start to an incredible day of racing, marked by tiny margins and huge celebrations.

“We can’t describe the feeling of getting a medal”

As the biggest category of the competition, the Open J18 Single Sculls didn’t disappoint in delivering some incredible racing. It was tight from the time trials, with second place just 0.1 seconds ahead of two scullers in third at 05:40.1. It was Quinn Molesey of Durham Amateur RC who took gold, flanked by former British Rowing Indoor Championship winner Louis Sheasby of Hartpury University and College BC and Cameron McKenzie of Northampton RC in third.

Quinn, a J16 athlete younger than the rest of the field and dubbed by the commentators as ‘one to watch’, was fresh off a win at GB vs France. He’ll be racing in the Open J16 Single Sculls tomorrow, and exciting things are sure to come from this young sculler.

It was a victory for Con Barrett and Finn Beattie in the Open Beginner Double Sculls. The Yorkshire GB Performance Development Academy crew, who started rowing in October 2024, finished with a comfortable lead over Millfield School BC in silver and Nottingham RC in bronze. Con said: “We’re both buzzing with this win. It’s a great accomplishment for our first year in rowing. We both feel like we rowed to the best of our abilities and our training came through for us. We can’t describe the feeling of getting a medal – hopefully more of that to come in the future!”

Our first dryrobe® was awarded to Lizzie Webster of Leicester RC, the new Women’s Club Single Sculls Champion. Leicester RC also took the win in the Open men’s event after an impressive race from Teddy Sherman, who overhauled Hereford RC’s Jamie Coombes in the final stages of the race.

Lightweight medals were hotly contested during Friday’s racing, but Ben Parsonage of Clydesdale ARC raced to a smooth victory in the Open Championship Lightweight Sculls, beating Sylvain Boyer of Kingston RC and Jack Norton of the University of Bath BC who took silver and bronze respectively. Fourth place went to Ollie Plank of Edinburgh University BC, who will be racing in a boat with Ben in the Open Championship Double Sculls on Sunday. In the Women’s event, Hazel Wake of City of Oxford RC took the gold, with Catherine Jackson of Worcester RC claiming silver and Leanna Daniels of Hollingworth Lake RC the bronze.

“The atmosphere between seniors and juniors racing side-by-side was incredible”

In the Women’s J16 Pairs, Isla Evans and Jasmin Irvin-Sellers had a self-proclaimed shaky start, but after battling with Wallingford RC’s ‘B’ crew right down to the line, took silver on the surge. The pair celebrated with a signature handshake that they’ve been using since Junior Inter Regional Regatta! Gold went to Aberdeen Schools’ RA, whilst bronze was taken by Wallingford RC ‘B’.

Mark Davies, CEO of British Rowing, said “It’s been a fantastic day in Nottingham: brilliant racing, a great atmosphere, and so many smiles on and off the water. A real celebration of club rowing at its best!”

Chris Callow, British Rowing Club Championships Organising Committee Chair said; “The big thing is that the atmosphere between seniors and juniors racing side-by-side was incredible. Great to witness fantastic racing – not only across A finals but right across the board to the F finals – especially the open club coxless fours event! Thank you to all the competitors, coaches and volunteers – let’s hope for another three days of fantastic racing!”

Catch up on today’s racing on Champs Live! 

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By Vivian Ahanmisi

Ghana’s Cynthia Kwabi defeated Benin’s Stacy Anadji in a thrilling group stage match at the ongoing West African Table Tennis Championship in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the four-day championship is taking place at Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Excitement filled the air as both talented players took to the table for a closely contested match.

The match featured intense rallies, with both athletes showcasing remarkable speed, precision, and skill throughout the encounter.

Kwabi used sharp tactics and pinpoint accuracy to outmanoeuvre Anadji at crucial points during the match.

The crowd erupted with cheers as both players exchanged powerful strokes and clever shot placements.

Kwabi’s nimble footwork and sharp reflexes helped her dominate the table and return Anadji’s shots with confidence.

She won the match 3-1 with a scoreline of 11–7, 9–11, 13–11, 11–6 to top her group.

“I trained hard for this championship, and it paid off at the end of the game,” Kwabi said.

“I am grateful for the support of my team and family,” she added.

Kwabi now advances to the next round, where she will face another top contender.

“I am focused on the next match and will give it my all,” she affirmed.

Also, Nigerian player Aziza Sezuo won her group match against Benin’s Ziadath Akadiri in impressive fashion.

Sezuo’s aggressive play overwhelmed Akadiri, securing a straight-sets victory: 11–9, 11–5, 11–9, 11–8.

NAN reports that the African West Championship continues to thrill fans with top-class table tennis in Lagos. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Esenvosa Izah/Kamal Tayo Oropo

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Magdalene Ukuedojor

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