Agecroft Rowing Club
Encyclopedia
Agecroft Rowing Club currently operates from Salford Quays
, England.
and Salford
since 1823, with more than 15 clubs operating during the 1860s. Agecroft R.C. was formed by the gradual merging of these River Irwell
-based clubs. Agecroft R.C. was established in Oct 1861 by Ishmael Lythgoe with its first boat house in the grounds of Agecroft Hall
at its original location before it was sold and rebuilt by the James River
in Virginia
, USA
. The club soon moved to the River Irwell further upstream at Littleton Road and were based there for over a hundred years. However, in early 2000s, the river became unrowable and the site of the boathouse was part of the new flood plain - this forced a move to a new boathouse at Salford Quays. This new home triggered a huge growth in club size and successes throughout the UK.
in the winter and supports two Amateur Rowing Association
world class start coaches.
The club hosts a wide variety of rowers of different abilities, ambitions and ages, with a large membership and a wide variety of members from juniors through students to veterans. The club has achieved high standards in recent years at Henley Royal Regatta
and course record winners at Henley Women's Regatta
in the Intermediate 4+ event. At HRR, under the coaching of Club Captain, Denis O'Neill, the club, in successive years lost a semi final by 2", then a Final, then a semifinal, but culminating in a historic first ever Henley win in The Britannia (Liz O'Neill/Craig Morgan/Pete Warman, Tom Dawson, stroke Ben Sullivan) in 2009.
The club has also been successful in the World Class Start squad with wins in the World Under 23s coxless pairs and a Home Countries win for England in the single sculls. Olivia Whitlam who won that U23 Gold has since gone on to represent GB at Beijing Olympics. Brendan Crean was selected into the World Championship Quad Scull.
Salford Quays
Salford Quays is an area of Salford in Greater Manchester, England, near the end of the Manchester Ship Canal. Previously the site of Manchester Docks, it became one of the first and largest urban regeneration projects in the United Kingdom following the closure of the dockyards in...
, England.
History
There has been rowing in ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and Salford
City of Salford
The City of Salford is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It is named after its largest settlement, Salford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Eccles, Swinton-Pendlebury, Walkden and Irlam which apart from Irlam each have a population of over...
since 1823, with more than 15 clubs operating during the 1860s. Agecroft R.C. was formed by the gradual merging of these River Irwell
River Irwell
The River Irwell is a long river which flows through the Irwell Valley in the counties of Lancashire and Greater Manchester in North West England. The river's source is at Irwell Springs on Deerplay Moor, approximately north of Bacup, in the parish of Cliviger, Lancashire...
-based clubs. Agecroft R.C. was established in Oct 1861 by Ishmael Lythgoe with its first boat house in the grounds of Agecroft Hall
Agecroft Hall
Agecroft Hall is a Tudor-style estate currently on the James River in Virginia, United States, though originally built in Pendlebury, Lancashire, England in the late 15th century. It is now operated as a museum. It was the home of Lancashire's Langley and Dauntesey families before falling into...
at its original location before it was sold and rebuilt by the James River
James River (Virginia)
The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...
in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The club soon moved to the River Irwell further upstream at Littleton Road and were based there for over a hundred years. However, in early 2000s, the river became unrowable and the site of the boathouse was part of the new flood plain - this forced a move to a new boathouse at Salford Quays. This new home triggered a huge growth in club size and successes throughout the UK.
Current activities
The club regularly competes across the UK at all levels and has a broad membership base, from complete novices and juniors through to semi-professional athletes competing at international level. The club regularly hosts a small boats head raceHead race
A head race is a time-trial competition in the sport of rowing, also known as crew to a few USA organizations. Head races are typically held in the fall and spring seasons. These events draw many athletes as well as observers...
in the winter and supports two Amateur Rowing Association
Amateur Rowing Association
British Rowing, formerly the Amateur Rowing Association , is the governing body in England for the sport of rowing. It is also responsible for the development and organisation of international rowing teams representing Great Britain...
world class start coaches.
The club hosts a wide variety of rowers of different abilities, ambitions and ages, with a large membership and a wide variety of members from juniors through students to veterans. The club has achieved high standards in recent years at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
and course record winners at Henley Women's Regatta
Henley Women's Regatta
Henley Women's Regatta is a rowing regatta held at Henley-on-Thames, England. It was formed as a result of the lack of women's events at Henley Royal Regatta and first held in 1988...
in the Intermediate 4+ event. At HRR, under the coaching of Club Captain, Denis O'Neill, the club, in successive years lost a semi final by 2", then a Final, then a semifinal, but culminating in a historic first ever Henley win in The Britannia (Liz O'Neill/Craig Morgan/Pete Warman, Tom Dawson, stroke Ben Sullivan) in 2009.
The club has also been successful in the World Class Start squad with wins in the World Under 23s coxless pairs and a Home Countries win for England in the single sculls. Olivia Whitlam who won that U23 Gold has since gone on to represent GB at Beijing Olympics. Brendan Crean was selected into the World Championship Quad Scull.