Member Article

Weather fails to dampen spirits at the oldest Regatta in the world

Despite the rain, spectators gathered on the banks of the River Dee to watch rowers compete in the annual Chester Regatta – the oldest regatta in the world dating back to 1733.

The city regatta is organised by volunteers from Chester’s six rowing clubs and saw over 650 rowers from 20 clubs across the country take part in the event, which is now in its 286th year.

Rowers impressed with competitive events in the Junior, Senior and Masters races. Each Senior and Masters winners received a specially engraved Quart Tankard and Juniors received specially struck Regatta Medals, all presented to them by the Lord Mayor of Chester, Cllr. Mark Williams, supported by Jan Chillery, the Regatta Secretary.

The Regatta was made possible due to support from local businesses including Chester-based legal firm Aaron & Partners, which has sponsored the event for the past 16 years.

Jan Chillery, Regatta Secretary and Insolvency Partner at Aaron & Partners, said: “It was fantastic to see men and women of all ages and standards competing in this year’s Chester Regatta.

“The Regatta has such an amazing history and I’m so proud that it’s still such a popular event 286 years after the first regatta was recorded in Chester.

“It was great to see so many people brave the rain and come to support the competitors. I always enjoy presenting prizes with the Lord Mayor of Chester, and Cllr Mark Williams was a big hit with the Junior winners, giving high-fives as well as medals!”

Silver trophies were presented to winners of key events, including the huge Championship of the Dee trophy, sponsored by Fifield Glyn chartered surveyors, and the oldest trophy dating from 1872, the beautiful City of Chester Trophy, sponsored by Thomas Plant Hire.

This year, Chester Regatta sported a ‘Going for Green’ theme, encouraging the rowing community to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle by avoiding single use plastics.

The green initiative affected all aspects of the Regatta: medals were hung on green ribbons, the commemorative Regatta Programme was green, reusable cups were used for tea and coffee, and rowers could fill reusable water bottles on site.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anna .