Southport Rowing Club

🌒 A bit different tonight! 5 of us were rowing, but we firstly joined in with everyone else & viewed the eclipse through Ian’s colander. Excellent! A stunning night for it.

It was then not-at-all-alarming (!) to have the entire population of Sefton watch us as we got two boats out in thirty-degree heat.

🚣🏻 Ian, Luke & Steve rowed the Prof in what looked like a very pleasurable outing 😎

🚣🏻 VG & Helen took the double out for the first time! We think this is SRC’s first ever women’s double pairing. Bit of work for debutant VG to do, Helen is racing fit, we did a racing start which was fun!

Pub Club well earned.

A few days late but we need to talk about last weekend’s Warrington Rowing Club regatta!

Huge congratulations to Helen & James, who achieved another fantastic win in their mixed 2x! And yet more congratulations to James who also smashed a win in his 1x 💪🏼

Great to see Southport making our mark on the North West racing scene 🥇🥇 Brilliant training commitment from Helen, James, Ian & Martin paying dividends.

The winter months are worth it for mornings like today. A busy Southport, gorgeous weather, calm water - couldn’t ask for more! 😎

🚣🏻 Racing crews headed out early for a training session, followed by the rest of us. Coxed quad, Prof and double all in action. 👍🏼

A plucky 5 tonight made the most of a quiet lake and headed out in the coxed quad!

Brilliant coxing debut by Helen, very poorly stroked by VG, Wendy, Gillian and Ian completing the crew. Plenty of work and a balanced boat which was running nicely. V enjoyable! And not a football in sight 😄

🌅 Southport sunsets are the greatest. Last night’s was one of those you just had to keep taking photos of!

Post-row Pub Club here after a return to the 8+ (and James in his single), plus a collection of sundowners.

🪏 With iffy rowing conditions, we tackled some much-needed jobs today.

A new rudder was fitted to the 8+, some other miscellaneous tinkering was undertaken 🤷🏽‍♀️, and the storage area was thoroughly tidied to remove the brambles, nettles and other stuff that attacks us when we’re moving boats around! A healthy Wetherspoons breakfast rounded off the morning. Thanks to Steve, Nick, Martin, Ian, Helen, Andy O, James Gs x2, and VG for sorting us out 👍🏼

🎉 Southport Rowing Club is celebrating five years since finding a new home at Adventure Coast Southport, formerly Southport Pleasureland, after losing its long standing boathouse on the Marine Lake.

The club had operated from its previous base for 25 years, and the loss of that facility placed its future in serious doubt. After nearly 40 years of rowing in Southport, the support offered by Adventure Coast provided the club with the opportunity not only to survive, but to grow.

Since moving to Adventure Coast, Southport Rowing Club has been able to expand its activities, welcome new members, and offer taster sessions for beginners keen to experience rowing on the Marine Lake. The lake remains one of Southport’s most treasured assets and is ideally suited to rowing, sailing, model boating and other water-based activities, especially during the recent spell of fine weather.

The club has also continued to compete successfully, taking part in events across the Midlands and the North West, with both men’s and mixed crews achieving a number of impressive wins.

Norman Wallis, of Adventure Coast, said:

“Southport has a proud and wonderfully eccentric heritage, and I believe it is important that we protect the things that give our town its character. Whether it is rowing, steam engines, model boats, fairground heritage or traditional seaside attractions, these are not just hobbies or pastimes, they are part of who we are.

“They mattered in the past, they matter now, and they will matter even more in the future if we want the next generation to understand and enjoy the real spirit of British seaside life.

“Just as importantly, these activities give people another reason to come together as a community. They create friendships, shared memories, pride in our town and opportunities for people of all ages to take part in something positive. At a time when communities need reasons to connect more than ever, clubs like Southport Rowing Club play a very special role.

“We were pleased to help Southport Rowing Club when they needed a home, and it is wonderful to see them still thriving five years later.”

The anniversary marks an important milestone for the club and highlights the value of community partnerships in protecting local heritage, encouraging participation, bringing people together, and keeping Southport’s traditions alive for future generations.

Thank you Norman and Adventure Coast for your continued support!

A busy (& fairly bouncy) couple of outings this week! 🌊

🚣🏻 On Weds, Andy Mil coxed a quad of Ian, Helen, Tracey & James. Meanwhile VG attempted to steer the Prof accompanied by Liz & Wendy.

🚣🏻 Today we looked worryingly like a rowing club with 4 (count ‘em!) boats out. James in the 1x, Martin & Andy Mil in the 2x, Andy Mar, Gillian & Liz in the Prof, & VG coxing a 4x+ with Ian, Tracy, Debs & Luke. Great fun, especially a racy little piece at the end!