HUNDREDS of rowers took over Bridgewater Canal at the weekend as a popular event made its post-pandemic return.

Trafford Rowing Club's Head of the Bridgewater event welcomed 400 rowers from around 20 clubs across the north west on Saturday, February 26.

The canal closed while crews took on either a one-kilometre time trial starting at Timperley Bridge, or a 3.2-kilometre time trial starting at Seamon's Moss Bridge – with both of these courses ending at the club's base in Walton Park.

Graham Whistance, chairman of Trafford Rowing Club, expressed his delight at the return of the event after the disruption caused by coronavirus.

He said: "We are delighted at how the day went. Due to the pandemic, this was the first chance for experienced participants to compete in over two years, and it gave the chance to new rowers for their first experience of competing.

"We had rowers from the age of 11 to over 70 competing on the day with a number of course records being broken, but more importantly the feedback from all involved was that a great day out was had by all."

Trafford Rowing Club runs learn to row courses, which start in the summer. For information on the club and the courses, go to traffordrowing.club.