Plug pulled on boat race for fifth year in a row

Boston Rowing Club has been active on the River Witham since 1856

A rowing marathon between Boston and Lincoln has been cancelled for the fifth year in a row after a "myriad" of setbacks affected organisers.

The Covid pandemic and duckweed clogging the river have been behind previous cancellations and now a lack of volunteers is the latest setback.

The marathon on the River Witham had been held for 76 years.

Chairman of Boston Rowing Club Robert Parker sags "it's very frustrating".

A small number of volunteers have shouldered the burden of keeping Boston Rowing Club going

The 30-mile race first happened in 1946 as a wager between rowers, but developed into a course known for its unique length.

Olympic gold medal winners Sir Matthew Pinsent, Sir Steven Redgrave and Mark Hunter MBE have been known to tackle the race in the past.

Mr Parker said: "It’s been such a part of the history for the club.

"To be cancelling it for a myriad of reasons year after year has been very frustrating.

"The amount of goodwill that we've had from the rowing community in the last few months means we are going to try and run it next year."

However, with 35 volunteers needed to line the route to Lincoln, Mr Parker admitted "it's going to be a lot of work".

Mark Housam joined the club after taking his children to sessions

Despite difficulties putting the event on, there is optimism from club members about the future.

Mark Housam, who originally joined as a parent of a junior rower, said he hopes there could be a surge in interest following the 2024 Olympics in Paris this summer.

"The last time we had full members was after the Olympics in 2012, hopefully this year numbers will start to pick up after the Olympics again," he said.

The marathon has been cancelled so often, for Lucy Walker it hasn't happened at all while she's been a member.

She said it would be "absolutely amazing" to be part of it.

"I joined two years after the last time we did it. Fingers crossed we get it up and running again soon," she said.

"Knowing how long it's been going on in the club and be able to become part of something so big would be great."

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