Lymington Amateur Rowing Club’s (LARC) performance at the National Schools Regatta has seen them emerge from a relatively small club to achieve national recognition with Ball Cup and Open Championship successes

Lymington Amateur Rowing Club’s performance at the National Schools Regatta has seen them emerge from a relatively small club to achieving national recognition.

The National Schools Regatta marked a debut for some athletes from Lymington ARC. From the outset, the commentators were taken aback. The club’s distinctive blades sparked confusion, with one remarking: “Lymington? That’s a new one on me.”

Initially mislabelled as a club from the West, Lymington ARC quickly changed the narrative.

The turning point came during the Open J15 coxed four B Final, where Lymington’s crew delivered a composed and strategic race, charging through the pack to secure second place. The performance was praised for its maturity.

This crew’s journey to the national schools regatta was particularly remarkable for the club. Two rowers had been rowing for less than a year, while the other three athletes were standouts on the coastal circuit in Hampshire and Dorset the previous season.

The crew claimed gold at the Ball Cup in the Open J15 quadruple sculls before switching to sweeping and earning an eighth-place finish at the National Schools Regatta.

Their cox, Alex Breese, is a legend of the club. Not only is he a break-out cox on the beach sprint scene, but he also coxes the club’s adult squads.

By Saturday, the club was no longer an unknown entity. As the club won the Open Championship single sculls B Final, the commentators knew their blades – they emphasised that the sculler racing clearly had “no issues” with the conditions. It’s no surprise, what with the club’s coastal roots.

Recently, the club welcomed Will Hetherington – a former Fulham Reach coach – who returned to his hometown to support the development of Lymington ARC’s young athletes.