There was plenty to cheer about for Culcheth High’s year eight rowing teams, who took on 30 other schools at the All Aboard Rowing Schools Regatta on the River Mersey.
Hosted at Warrington Rowing Club in glorious sunshine, the 300m regatta brought together schools from Warrington, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Northwich and Runcorn. The crews competed in timed races, which is a rather more demanding way to spend a school day than hiding behind a textbook.
The Culcheth High girls crew secured third place in the regional results, earning bronze medals with a time of 1:39:2. The boys went one better, taking gold in the regional results.
They also claimed the Schools Regatta Boys Shield after recording the fastest time in the overall open results, completing the course in 1:25:4. That is an excellent result, and one that reflects the commitment and serious effort the pupils have shown during training.
The programme is run by All Aboard Youth Rowing, formerly known as the charity Warrington Youth Rowing. It operates across six rowing clubs in the north west, with almost 400 pupils from 36 schools taking part in weekly sessions through their school curriculum.
That opportunity matters. All Aboard Youth Rowing provides coaching and facilities while helping young people build confidence, discipline and new skills through a sport that is not exactly famous for being an easy option. It is a strong example of school sport offering more than a quick kickabout and a muddy kit bag.
The rowing programme began at Warrington Rowing Club in 2016, with Culcheth High joining in 2017. Since then, past and present CHS pupils have enjoyed success at both the Indoor Rowing Championships and school regattas.
Miss Creighton, pastoral support officer at Culcheth High and coach of the team, said she was tremendously proud of the pupils.
“Students wear their rowing kit with pride and thrive not just from the physical challenges they face and overcome, but their own personal goals they achieve; developing new skills which will stay with them for the future,” she said.
She added: “The students have done extremely well, and deserve to be very proud of their achievements.”
Quite right. Bronze for the girls, gold for the boys and a shield for the fastest overall crew is a cracking haul for Culcheth High, and a timely reminder that local pupils can make a serious impression well beyond the village.