On Saturday (24 February 2024) rowing clubs from across Yorkshire will be competing on the Aire & Calder Navigation in Stourton in the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta Trials (JIRR Trials) hosted by Leeds Rowing Club.
The main regatta will occur in April 2024 where 13 regions from across the UK come together to race. Each win gains points for their region, the aim being for crews to become the best in the country which is decided by how many points they have.
In order to decide the crew for Yorkshire, all the clubs from across the region will come together to race their top crews to determine who is the quickest and they will be selected to represent Yorkshire in the April regatta.
For Leeds Rowing Club to host this event is a great honour as it provides the club the opportunity to showcase their amazing athletes on home waters whilst providing clubs from across the region the beautiful waterways of Leeds.
Leeds Junior Academy began a short 18 months ago and the club are progressing at an impressive rate from thirty athletes to sixty five and match some of the top crews regionally and nationally. The club policy is to have the the ability to offer rowing to anyone regardless of their financial background and aim to offer rowing to those who normally would not get the chance.
This event will provide athletes, families and clubs from across Yorkshire the opportunity to experience Leeds at its best. Being able to row up the Aire & Calder Navigation from the Leeds Rowing Club Boat house, Stourton to Woodlesford Lock which provides a great stretch of water for racing whilst offering sensational views of the city.
Rob MacKenzie, Head Coach of the Leeds Junior Academy, said:
“Its impressive how far the club has come in a year, the work put in by the athletes and the coaching team with the support of the parents have put us up with the top crews in the region, and we aim to keep pushing until we can compete with the top crews in the country.”
The trials take place between 10am-2pm on Saturday 24 February 2024.
If you would like more information about joining the club, go to their website leedsrowing.org.uk/learn-to-row or email: rowingatleeds@gmail.com
This post is based on a press release issued by Leeds Rowing Club
Photo: Leeds Junior Boys 14’s at the British Rowing Championships 2023
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