Northenden Boat Race

The Northenden Boat Race, Sunday 24th August 2025

This highly popular event is now an annual fixture and may be of interest to residents on the estate. For this reason, the following brief notes have been included.

• NBR held on Sunday of August Bank Holiday weekend. 19th year held.

• Started at 1pm from Simon’s Bridge. Finished at bridge by old Tatton Arms pub in Northenden.

• Participants requested to meet at Didsbury Golf Club’s visitors’ car park. Practice ground also used for parking. Sign in. Cost: £5 per person. Must be over 18 and must have life jacket.

• Two prizes: first in the two-person inflatable dinghy class, and first in the two-person inflatable canoe class. Over 40 crafts. A few single rowers. Staggered start in batches of about 10-12.

• Large crowd watched start from Simon’s Bridge and on banks.

• Many spectators and enthusiasts walked along the river bank to Northenden cheering on their favourites.

• The Northenden Pipes and Drums band played an entertaining medley of favourite tunes as the rowers neared the finishing line. Rowers then continued and went over weir before stopping at pebble island in middle of river.

• Large crowds on bridge and banks overlooking weir. Some dinghies became stuck going over weir and rowers had to wriggle free, much to the amusement and appreciation of onlookers. All good fun. Family fun day.

• Following last to finish, musicians headed back over bridge, re-formed on Boat Lane and resumed playing as they headed towards Ford Lane. 

• Stalls, chairs and tables set up outside St Wilfrid’s church hall and on village green. Music, singing. Refreshments, cakes and drinks etc.

• Presentation on village green. Trophies cheerfully presented by Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Carmine Grimshaw wearing his chain of office, who said a few appropriate words expressing his enjoyment of the occasion. Also presented prize for fancy dress.

• Pipes and drums band again resumed playing, this time on village green.

• Collection boxes circulated for The Christie Charity. All proceeds from the day were to be passed on to the Teenage and Young Adult Unit Fund at The Christie.

• In addition, the nearby historic church opened its doors and offered tours of the tower and the ringing of its bells.

The Northenden Boat Race was held on a lovely, warm day and brought a great deal of fun and pleasure to many people.

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