London RC wins Victor Ludorum at 2024 British Rowing Masters Championships

Scores of clubs from around the country go home with gold after two days of action-packed racing at the National Waters Sports Centre in Nottingham – whilst London RC win the £1,000 overall prize, sponsored by Faster Masters Rowing

Conditions today at the National Water Sports Centre in Holme Pierrepont Country Park, Nottingham, were a welcome calm after yesterday’s thunderstorms. Although the scoreboard remained out of action due to a lightning strike, competitors were unfazed, delivering an electrifying day of racing for hundreds of rowers, including those in the Masters I age group (average age 75+).

Today’s winning crews represented a large number clubs from across the UK. Those who picked up their first wins today at these Championships included Agecroft, Ardingly, Avon County, Bentham, Birmingham, Broxbourne, Burway, Exeter, Grosvenor, Hollingworth Lake, Lakeland, Portadown (Ireland), Portora (Ireland), RAF, Royal Chester, Strathclyde Park (Scotland), Tyrian, Upton, Walbrook, Warwick, and Worcester.

In the Victor Ludorum contest for the most successsful club, points are awarded for places one to six in Championship finals, and for wins in Intermediate events. Larger boat types attract more points. With most of the eights events taking place today, as well as a lot of the fours – and crews doubling up in coxed and coxless – the leaderboard developed as the day went on. In the end, London RC were the clear winners, ahead of Tideway Scullers School with Kingston RC third. London, who had never won the trophy before, put in the largest entry – some 57 crews – and these put in a strong all-round performance, particularly with minor medals and other final placings. Former captain James Sexton-Barrow, who organised the club’s Victor Ludorum campaign said, “Winning the Victor Ludorum on the day was such a special moment. But more than that, seeing the whole LRC masters community come together over the last few months to achieve a collective goal has been incredible. Bang the drum! A big thank you to all the organisers and volunteers who put the regatta on.”

In total 122 of the 125 clubs who had entered these Championships scored Victor Ludorum points, and members from around half are going home happily with gold medals to add to their collections.

Chair of the Organising Committee, Christopher Anton, said, “Thanks to all the competitors who braved everything from hail and lightning to some brilliant sunshine this weekend. It was a great Championships with a record entry. This in no small part is down to the large number of volunteers and we thank them for all their hard work in testing conditions too.”