The English Indoor Rowing Championships are back after four year break.
One of the UK’s premier indoor rowing events is making its long-awaited comeback. The English Indoor Rowing Championships returns this weekend, hosted at Bolton Arena, and for the first time in its history, it will run alongside the legendary Rainhill Trials with more than 220 athletes taking part.
This exciting double-header promises an unmissable day of athleticism, energy, and elite competition. Whether you’re chasing a PB, climbing the podium, or soaking up the electric atmosphere, this is a championship not to be missed. Athletes from across the UK and beyond will battle it out on the Concept2 Rower , pushing their limits in speed, stamina, and teamwork. Across the day, we’ll see racing over 2000m, 500m, and the 3000m team relay event. It’s the perfect way to see where you stack up against the field with three months to go until the British Rowing Indoor Championships.
There will be plenty of record holders and British Champions making the trip to Bolton, of which is Roger Stainforth. After winning the 2,000m and 500m events in the 80-84 age category at BRIC last year, he’s back to give it another crack and we’ll see him in action in race three. One race before him in the men’s 40-49 2ooom Ian Wilde will take to the race floor. The stalwart of Sub 7 IRC has just set a new PB and is in fine form ahead of the English Champs. Keep an eye on the race floor throughout the morning because the great racing will continue to come thick and fast. We’ll see the 100m world record holder Loïc Schalbetter in action over 2000m as well as British interest in the form of Pippa Biggs and Meg Knight in the Women’s 19-29 2000m. British Rowing Master Trainer and one of the faces of ROW31, Cat Trentham returns to racing in a packed 30-39 Lwt Women 2000m field. Over the years, Trentham has set 12 world records on the Concept2 and RP3.
As usual, the 500m racing is set to be electric. Commentator Jon Goodall is entered into the Open 50-59 event, while Tereza Horejsova will be one to watch in the Women’s 40-49 event. Race 12 has a fully loaded race floor and expect fireworks across the Open 19-29 and 30-39 500m. Th2 2024 BRIC silver and bronze medallists Chris Scott and Freddie Stuart will face off against each other once more, while Schalbetter, who was 1.3s back on Stuart in Birmingham will look to flip the script from last year’s racing.
More information about the English Indoor Rowing Championships can be found here.
If your inspired, why don't you check out and sign up to the British Rowing Indoor Championships and Super Sprints Sunday taking place on the 6th and 7th December 2025 at the NEC, Birmingham.