News Archive - 2022
Obituary for much loved Robin Dowell
18 December 2022
Robin Dowell, a popular member during his time at Agecroft Rowing Club, sadly passed away, a couple of days ago on 16 December.
During his time at Agecroft, from 2005 to 2008, he was one of the first cohorts of the World Class Start programme. He took part in a number of major events incl. runner-up in the Visitors' Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in 2007 (Agecroft / Reading M4- composite).
After leaving Agecroft, Robin took on a career as a rowing coach, becoming a GB Rowing Team coach before taking on, most recently, the position of Chief Coach of the Swiss national rowing team.
Robin (40) passed away at Lake Sarnen, Switzerland while preparing for a training session with some of his athletes.
The thoughts of everyone, who had the pleasure to know Robin during his time at the club, are with Robin’s family and friends at this sad time.
18 December 2022
Robin Dowell, a popular member during his time at Agecroft Rowing Club, sadly passed away, a couple of days ago on 16 December.
During his time at Agecroft, from 2005 to 2008, he was one of the first cohorts of the World Class Start programme. He took part in a number of major events incl. runner-up in the Visitors' Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in 2007 (Agecroft / Reading M4- composite).
After leaving Agecroft, Robin took on a career as a rowing coach, becoming a GB Rowing Team coach before taking on, most recently, the position of Chief Coach of the Swiss national rowing team.
Robin (40) passed away at Lake Sarnen, Switzerland while preparing for a training session with some of his athletes.
The thoughts of everyone, who had the pleasure to know Robin during his time at the club, are with Robin’s family and friends at this sad time.
Record Agecroft Entry for 2022 Fours head!
19 November 2022
31 of our Senior athletes raced at the prestigious Fours Head in London last weekend. This is our highest ever entry for this event - with 7 crews (4 mens and 3 womens). Our fast growing Senior Women squad even had to leave some at home due to insufficient trailer space!
Race conditions were excellent with many long-standing records being broken. Slightly mixed fortunes for Agecroft Crews - the men had all 4 crews placed in the Top 150 (out of 490 entries) with our Quad coming 2nd for the third year running in their event. The women were a little unlucky with our top women's coxless four being speared by another crew early in the race, resulting in boat damage that ruined their race.
We now look forward to a similar showing at Eights Head in March 2023.
Medal for Graeme Thomas at the 2022 World Rowing Championships
25 September 2022
Agecroft's Graeme Thomas took Bronze in the Men’s single sculls (M1x) at the 2022 World Rowing Championships at the Labe Arena in Racice, Czech Republic.
From a total of 40 entries, Graeme made it to the A final for what he said "...was the tightest race. Totally blown!" European Champion, Melvin Twellaar of the Netherlands was quickest out the blocks; however, reigning World Champion, Oliver Zeidler of Germany moved through to lead by 250. Great Britain’s Graeme Thomas was in bronze medal position from the start, but was pushed hard by New Zealander Jordan Parry to the line.
Club captain, James Harris said: "Everyone at Agecroft is delighted for Graeme, after a hard summer training programme he has achieved the podium finish he was looking for at the World Championships. We could not be happier for him.
"Graeme continues to provide inspiration for many of our juniors and, at a time when we are increasing the number of inner-city schools we work with through the new Greater Manchester Youth Rowing programme, inspiration is exactly what many of the youngsters need."
Final result: 1.GER, 2.NED, 3.GBR, 4.NZL, 5.NOR, 5.GRE
25 September 2022
Agecroft's Graeme Thomas took Bronze in the Men’s single sculls (M1x) at the 2022 World Rowing Championships at the Labe Arena in Racice, Czech Republic.
From a total of 40 entries, Graeme made it to the A final for what he said "...was the tightest race. Totally blown!" European Champion, Melvin Twellaar of the Netherlands was quickest out the blocks; however, reigning World Champion, Oliver Zeidler of Germany moved through to lead by 250. Great Britain’s Graeme Thomas was in bronze medal position from the start, but was pushed hard by New Zealander Jordan Parry to the line.
Club captain, James Harris said: "Everyone at Agecroft is delighted for Graeme, after a hard summer training programme he has achieved the podium finish he was looking for at the World Championships. We could not be happier for him.
"Graeme continues to provide inspiration for many of our juniors and, at a time when we are increasing the number of inner-city schools we work with through the new Greater Manchester Youth Rowing programme, inspiration is exactly what many of the youngsters need."
Final result: 1.GER, 2.NED, 3.GBR, 4.NZL, 5.NOR, 5.GRE
Tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
10 September 2022
Agecroft members came together to honour Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; giving thanks for her service and dedication to the nation. United in our grief, as we express sorrow at her passing on Thursday, 08 September 2022.
Our club is about community and bringing people together, in good times and in sad. Members came down to the club to respectfully pay tribute to Her Majesty The Queen by holding a minute’s silence. We all then gave three cheers to celebrate her glorious reign and a life well lived, ahead of the weekend's training sessions.
10 September 2022
Agecroft members came together to honour Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; giving thanks for her service and dedication to the nation. United in our grief, as we express sorrow at her passing on Thursday, 08 September 2022.
Our club is about community and bringing people together, in good times and in sad. Members came down to the club to respectfully pay tribute to Her Majesty The Queen by holding a minute’s silence. We all then gave three cheers to celebrate her glorious reign and a life well lived, ahead of the weekend's training sessions.
Trio of Boats Named in Honour of Agecroft Coaches and Rowers
30 July 2022
Three new boats have been named after successful former Agecroft athletes Ellie Lewis and Zac Lee-Green, and former coach Hamish Burrell.
Ellie, Zac and Hamish have all gone on to represent GB in our sport.
Hamish Burrell, started work at Agecroft Rowing Club in November 2004, kicking off our GB 'Start' programme, and Athletes developed through the scheme at Agecroft include Olivia Whitlam who, under Hamish’s coaching, won Under 23 World Championships Gold in 2007 and then went on to reach the final of the Beijing Olympics; and Graeme Thomas with numerous word rowing successes including most recently winning the Men’s single sculls (M1x) at the 2022 World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne, Switzerland.
Zac Lee-Green, a success of the GB 'Start' programme, and under Hamish's tenure, made his GB debut in the 2010 World U23 Championships in Brest and won a fine bronze medal in the lightweight quad. He also won silver at the 2017 World Rowing Championships in Sarasota-Bradenton in the lightweight men’s quadruple sculls.
Ellie Lewis another graduate of Agecroft's British Rowing Start programme, stepped up to join the GB Rowing Team senior squad in 2017. At under-23 level, Ellie won a fine bronze medal in the lightweight women’s quad sculls at the World Rowing U23 Championships in Linz, Austria.
Our 2 new coxed quads have been bought ready for Greater Manchester Youth Rowing to start this September. The third boat is our new Masters 8+.
Thank you to Booth Charity for the donation towards the coxed quads. We look forward to welcoming local schools down to learn to row.
Many thanks to Ellie, Zac and Hamish for visiting the club for the boat naming ceremony, we are very proud of you all!
30 July 2022
Three new boats have been named after successful former Agecroft athletes Ellie Lewis and Zac Lee-Green, and former coach Hamish Burrell.
Ellie, Zac and Hamish have all gone on to represent GB in our sport.
Hamish Burrell, started work at Agecroft Rowing Club in November 2004, kicking off our GB 'Start' programme, and Athletes developed through the scheme at Agecroft include Olivia Whitlam who, under Hamish’s coaching, won Under 23 World Championships Gold in 2007 and then went on to reach the final of the Beijing Olympics; and Graeme Thomas with numerous word rowing successes including most recently winning the Men’s single sculls (M1x) at the 2022 World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne, Switzerland.
Zac Lee-Green, a success of the GB 'Start' programme, and under Hamish's tenure, made his GB debut in the 2010 World U23 Championships in Brest and won a fine bronze medal in the lightweight quad. He also won silver at the 2017 World Rowing Championships in Sarasota-Bradenton in the lightweight men’s quadruple sculls.
Ellie Lewis another graduate of Agecroft's British Rowing Start programme, stepped up to join the GB Rowing Team senior squad in 2017. At under-23 level, Ellie won a fine bronze medal in the lightweight women’s quad sculls at the World Rowing U23 Championships in Linz, Austria.
Our 2 new coxed quads have been bought ready for Greater Manchester Youth Rowing to start this September. The third boat is our new Masters 8+.
Thank you to Booth Charity for the donation towards the coxed quads. We look forward to welcoming local schools down to learn to row.
Many thanks to Ellie, Zac and Hamish for visiting the club for the boat naming ceremony, we are very proud of you all!
Gold for Graeme Thomas on The Lake of Gods
10 July 2022
Agecroft's Graeme Thomas has won the Men’s single sculls (M1x) at the 2022 World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne, Switzerland.
After a bronze medal at the first World Cup this year, Graeme won Great Britain’s first men’s single sculling gold medal in over a decade.
Graeme had an impressive start, along with Spain’s Jordi Jofre Senciales and French sculler Matthieu Androdias. After Senciales seemed to fade, Graeme established a 1/4 length lead at the 1,000m mark. Bulgaria’s Kristian Vasilev came through to second place, testing Graeme, but sprinting to the line Graeme got the gold (in a time of 6:40.90), with a late surge from Germany’s Marc Weber to secure third place.
Final result: 1. GBR / 2. BUL / 3. GER / 4. CAN / 5. ESP / 6. FRA.
Graeme said to British Rowing: “Years ago, I read a rowing book which talked about coming to Lucerne and it being a special place. Ever since I read that book it added an extra level to coming here and, yes, I’ve won here before but to come here and win in the single is just so special. It did give me that extra little something because for so long I’ve wanted to have a go and never had the opportunity to, and here this weekend I’ve won every race and have seized that opportunity so I’m just really happy.”
10 July 2022
Agecroft's Graeme Thomas has won the Men’s single sculls (M1x) at the 2022 World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne, Switzerland.
After a bronze medal at the first World Cup this year, Graeme won Great Britain’s first men’s single sculling gold medal in over a decade.
Graeme had an impressive start, along with Spain’s Jordi Jofre Senciales and French sculler Matthieu Androdias. After Senciales seemed to fade, Graeme established a 1/4 length lead at the 1,000m mark. Bulgaria’s Kristian Vasilev came through to second place, testing Graeme, but sprinting to the line Graeme got the gold (in a time of 6:40.90), with a late surge from Germany’s Marc Weber to secure third place.
Final result: 1. GBR / 2. BUL / 3. GER / 4. CAN / 5. ESP / 6. FRA.
Graeme said to British Rowing: “Years ago, I read a rowing book which talked about coming to Lucerne and it being a special place. Ever since I read that book it added an extra level to coming here and, yes, I’ve won here before but to come here and win in the single is just so special. It did give me that extra little something because for so long I’ve wanted to have a go and never had the opportunity to, and here this weekend I’ve won every race and have seized that opportunity so I’m just really happy.”