OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS FOR BRIGG TOWN CENTRE BUSINESSES

A top annual sporting event is on the horizon in Brigg.
The Ancholme Head 2018 race will be held on Sunday, October 14,  2018.
It is being organised along our local river by Ancholme Rowing Club, based in Manley Gardens.
This event always brings scores of competitors and spectators to the town centre on a Sunday - a fact that Brigg businesses providing food and drink should note with commercial interest.
For visitors from far and wide will by in town from early morning until late afternoon and will need to be fed and watered.
Many of them in the past chose to use the Nelthorpe Arms pub to slake their thirst, but it has closed since last year's Head race, meaning that rival hostelries have an opportunity to cash in by attracting  competitors and their supporters in search of alcoholic beverages.
This is a special year for Ancholme Rowing Club - its 150th since formation in 1868 (just a few years after Brigg Town Football Club).
In his book Brigg - published in 1974 - local journalist Edward Dodd, of St Helen's Road, said of the rowing club: "In Victorian times the correct mode of attire was straw boaters and knickerbockers and the main club activity was leisurely rowing to picnics on the banks of the river.
"Only a small proportion of the members exerted themselves to row competitively in races and regattas."
This had changed out of all recognition by the 1970s when the club had 55 members and 19 boats, with an annual regatta on the Ancholme and club championships, plus taking part in 15 'away' events hosted by other clubs.
'Doddy' suggested in the '70s that boathouse accommodation had not kept pace with the years, but revealed "plans for new buildings that will cater for a membership of up to 250."
Members had to wait some time but eventually that ambitious project came to fruition and today the rowing club has a very impressive boathouse, just a short walk from Bridge Street.
Make a note of the date - Sunday, October 14 - and pop down to take a look.
Things have changed out of all recognition for Ancholme Rowing Club since the 'knickerbocker glory' era!
Find out more about the Ancholme Head here...

Competitors in a previous Ancholme Head on the River Ancholme nearing the County Bridge, Brigg.

 

A busy scene on Bridge Street, Brigg, prior to the event.