Cantabrigian Rowing Club’s Ellie Darlington earns recognition in the British Rowing awards

Ellie Darlington was one of nine regional winners of the British Rowing volunteer of the year award.

The awards reflected the individuals who made a significant impact on rowing in 2019, and the volunteer prize sought to recognise those that contributed significantly to the wider rowing community.

Darlington is captain of the Cantabrigian Rowing Club senior women’s squad and won the Eastern Region accolade.

The squad consists of more than 35 women aged 18 to 50, and Darlington has been vital in making Cantabs the top women’s club in the city during the past seven years.

She has created a pathway from Learn to Row courses to the senior squad, and the success is demonstrated by 85 per cent being retained by the club.

Darlington has grown Cantabs while improving the experience for members and making it more successful.

Ellen Mitchell, from the North West region, representing Grosvenor Rowing Club was the overall winner of the award.

Newnham College Boat Club’s first eight was shortlisted for the university crew of the year award for the eastern region.

A year in which they celebrated their 100th anniversary, they coped with moving out of their boathouse to produce one of the best crews in their history.

The first eight became the first crew in Newnham’s history to take a double headship, in the Lent and May Bumps in 2019.

All boats are fitted with rainbow shoelaces, bought from Pride, to reflect that almost 50 per of Newnham rowers are LGBT and the boat club provides a safe space for everyone, regardless of sexuality.

The winner of the award was the University of Leeds Boat Club’s Matt Brigham.