The 2024 Lakeland roll of honour

Explorers Hannah, Celia, Andrew, Lizzie and Sharolyn Picture: Hannah Hill

November

Head of the Lune Lakeland crews (above) enjoy multiple wins, despite cold, wet conditions, at the event hosted by Lancaster’s John O’Gaunt RC. The Hill, McCumiskey and Lawson families are particularly well represented.

In the junior categories, Micah Wightman takes the open J17 singles title and the doubles with Sam Hill. Izzie Watson has similar success in the women’s J18 singles and in the doubles with Jyoti Varey, in her first ever race. Izzie has a third win, in the mixed doubles, with Liam McCumiskey.

It’s a good day, too, for the club’s senior crews, with first places for Liam’s mum, Julia, rowing with Graeme Mactavish in the open masters E/G and the mixed masters D/E classes.

The women’s masters D/E coxless quad of Celia Whittam, Sam’s mum, Hannah, Clare Lawson and – for her third win of the day – Julia McCumiskey also triumphs. There is success as well in the open masters A/C coxless category for Clare’s husband, Steve, Sam’s dad, Alex, James Waterfield and Simon Bamforth.

October

Dee Autumn Head Nick Cowan and Sam Ayers row to victory in the mixed masters D/E/F doubles at the event hosted by Chester’s Grosvenor RC.

Tyne Small Boats Head Graeme Mactavish and Julia McCumiskey win the open masters D/E doubles at the Tyne United Rowing Club event.

September

Runcorn Autumn Head Graeme Mactavish and Julia McCumiskey take first place in the open masters C/E and mixed masters D/E doubles.

RoWindermere Susan Cammish, Karen and Craig Wagstaff, Andrew Butcher and Victoria Gibson (above, from left) brave some challenging conditions to complete the 20km round-lake event along with ten other crews.

Bradford Autumn Regatta Graeme Mactavish and Julia McCumiskey win the open masters D/E/F and mixed masters E/G doubles.

August

North of England Sprint Rowing Championships The club brings home two titles from the prestigious annual event hosted by Hollingworth Lake RC. Graeme Mactavish and Julia McCumiskey take the open masters E doubles crown, while Celia Whittam wins the women’s masters G singles.

Tyne Regatta Graeme Mactavish and Julia McCumiskey win both the open masters E/G and mixed masters E doubles.

Henley Town and Visitors’ Regatta Steve Lawson takes masters E gold rowing as part of a Royal Air Force RC quad.

July

Talkin Tarn Regatta Celia Whittam triumphs in the women’s masters F/G singles, and Graeme Mactavish and Julia McCumiskey win in the mixed masters D/E/F, open masters D/E and mixed doubles.

June

North West and Yorkshire Explore Series At the fourth Explore event of the season, hosted by Windermere RC, Andrew Butcher, Lizzie Wyatt, Hannah Hill, Sharolyn Parnham and Susan Cammish power to victory in three out of their four faces.

British Rowing Masters’ Championships The club nets five medals racing over a 1,000m course at Nottingham’s National Water Sports Centre.

Celia Whittam and Gordon Jack win the mixed intermediate 65+ doubles by an impressive 30 seconds, while Celia is second in the women’s G singles. Graeme Mactavish and Julia McCumiskey also take silver in both the mixed D and E doubles.

Sam Ayers wins bronze in a composite women’s D coxless quad with Grosvenor and Runcorn rowing clubs.

Hexham Regatta Izzie Watson (left) and Julia McCumiskey power to victory in the women’s doubles at the event hosted by Hexham RC.

May

North West and Yorkshire Explore Series At the third Explore event of the season, hosted by Runcorn RC, a quad consisting of Andrew Butcher, Hayley Blakely, Lizzie Wyatt and Sharolyn Parnham win their first race.

Triumphant: Lakeland junior and senior medallists at Tees Regatta

Tees Regatta The juniors have a truly impressive day at the Tees RC event. Izzie Watson and Liam McCumiskey take the women’s and open titles respectively in the J18 singles, and Sam Hill and Edward Copeland triumph in the open J15 doubles.

Meanwhile, in their very first doubles race, Lewis Copeland and Emilia Humphreys storm to victory in the open J13 final against two boats powered by strapping lads.

Wins for Celia Whittam in the women’s masters E/F/G singles and for Liam’s mum, Julia McCumiskey, and Graeme Mactavish in the mixed masters C doubles make it a good day for the adults, too.

Durham Regatta Celia Whittam and Gordon Jack triumph in the open masters G doubles.

April

Strathclyde medallists, from left: Graeme, Julia, Celia and Gordon

Scottish Rowing Spring Regatta Lakeland returns from Strathclyde Park with one gold and two silver medals. Celia Whittam takes first place in the women’s masters G singles, and Gordon Jack is second in the open masters G/H/I. Julia McCumiskey and Graeme Mactavish take second in the open masters E/G doubles, with Celia and Gordon fourth in same race.

North West and Yorkshire Explore Series At the second Explore event of the year, hosted by Lancaster’s John O’Gaunt RC, Hannah Hill, Andrew Butcher, Lizzie Wyatt and Sharolyn Parnham, coxed by Celia Whittam, enjoy a series of tight races and end the day with a win.

March

North West and Yorkshire Explore Series In the first event of the season, hosted by Stoke-on-Trent’s Trentham BC, Andrew Butcher, Craig Wagstaff, Lizzie Wyatt and Sharolyn Parnham take part in several closely fought races and come away with one win.

Yorkshire Head Julia McCumiskey and Graeme Mactavish triumph in the mixed doubles and open masters E/F doubles at the event hosted by York City RC.

February

World Rowing Indoor Championships Celia Whittam wins gold at 500m in the women’s age 65-69 category in 1 minute 49.5 seconds, her second consecutive indoor worlds victory. Sam Ayers takes silver in the lightweight women’s 50-54 age group in 1 minute 42.6 at the virtual and in-person competition held in Prague, Czechia.

European Indoor Championships Sam’s results also put her in silver at 500m and bronze at 2000m for the European competition, which is part of the world event.

World’s Toughest Row David Ferrier (above right) and Seas the Moments teammate Garry Hoyle complete the 3,000-mile row from La Gomera, in the Canary Islands, to Antigua, in 70 days, 20 hours and 18 minutes. Find out more about their extraordinary adventure, in support of the Great North Air Ambulance, here.

Head of the Mersey Julia McCumiskey and Graeme Mactavish take the open masters E and mixed masters E/F doubles titles, outpacing one of the river’s visiting seals, at the event hosted by Warrington RC. Julia also subs for Hollingworth Lake RC in the women’s coxless quad category, helping three much younger women to victory.

US Rowing Indoor National Championships Sam Ayers takes bronze in the women’s masters D 500m race in 1 minute 43.6 seconds.

January

York Small Boats Head Julia McCumiskey and Graeme Mactavish win the open masters D/E/G and mixed masters E/G doubles at the event hosted by York City RC.