ROWERS from a Handbridge school won medals at a national competition – without taking to the water!
A squad from Queens Park High School swapped their boats for stationary ergo rowing machines at the English Indoor Rowing Championships held at Manchester Velodrome on Sunday.
Leon Langmead won gold in the J15 men’s event.
He edged into the lead after a minute of the five-minute race and maintained his position from that point onwards, winning by a margin of 27m.
Fellow Queen’s Park High pupil Alex Thomas was close behind and Lucy Clegg was within a second of beating her personal best in the J15 women’s race, demonstrating the strength the school has in the J15 age group.
Leon’s brother, Joel Langmead, was just pipped into fourth place in the J16 men’s, with Liam Vipond achieving a personal best for his performance.
In the J16 men’s relay, the Queen’s Park High boys – Joel and Leon Langmead, Ben Archer and James McDermott – took the top podium place, winning gold by a convincing margin of 90m.
In the adult competitions, Becky Clegg won bronze in her event and a team of parents – Richard and Julie Cox, Daljit Baker and Becky Clegg – came first in the mixed team event.
Strong debut performances came from Amy Williamson, Emily Cox and Meera Baker for Queen’s Park High in the J13 girls competition, while Joe Clegg and Matt Baker entered the J12 event and turned in brilliant displays, despite the fact they had only taken up rowing two weeks earlier.
