CHILDREN who have taken up rowing through school featured in their end-of-year regatta on Thursday.

A busy River Mersey bankside, with noisy support, greeted crew after crew at the finish line near Kingsway Bridge in Latchford as teenagers from Warrington high schools raced on calm water in glorious sunshine.

It capped a year’s project made available by the charity, Warrington Youth Rowing.

Philip Lyons from Thelwall, a Henley Stewards Charitable Trust coach working for British Rowing, highlighted how the youngsters have revelled in the involvement.

“It’s individuals who wouldn’t really have had the opportunity to take part in the sport of rowing,” he said.

“And these guys have really thrived on the project and have really enjoyed doing it.

Warrington Guardian:

“They’ve been coming down every week and really been looking forward to it.

“We’ve been out in all weathers, wind, rain, cold. Thankfully the past couple of weeks we’ve had some really nice weather and the guys have really started enjoying rowing on the water.”

READ: Background to the Warrington Youth Rowing scheme

Around 55 children from six of the town’s high schools featured in Thursday’s racing at the home of Warrington Rowing Club.

“They’ve been coming down and rowing with us for the past year,” said Lyons.

“We take 10 children from each of eight state schools in Warrington and this is their final event of the year.

“I think some of the attendance at school and behaviour has improved, which is a bonus and fantastic.”

Schools and parents have been very supportive of the work.

“We got loads of people at the regatta,” said Lyons.

Warrington Guardian:

“We’ve had loads of support from the schools, numerous members of staff who have been coming down throughout the year, and it’s fantastic to see so many people coming down to support the children.”

Results:

Year 8

Open quads: Culcheth 

Girls quads: Cardinal Newman 

Open double: Sir Thomas Boteler 

Girls double: Sir Thomas Boteler 

Girls single: Culcheth 

Year 10 

Girls single: Sir Thomas Boteler 

Shields for overall performance during the year

Year 9 boys: UAW

Year 9 girls: Cardinal Newman 

Year 10 girls: Sir Thomas Boteler 

Year 10 boys: Cardinal Newman