Exciting racing on show at the British Rowing Masters Championships as Upper Thames lift the Victor Ludorum
221 races makes for an action packed weekend at the British Rowing Masters Championships, sponsored by Visit Sarasota County
Upper Thames winning gold at the British Rowing Masters Championships sponsored by Visit Sarasota County (c) Drew Smith Photography
After an action packed weekend of racing, which saw 221 races go down the track, Upper Thames RC won the Victor Ludorum with 810 points.
In mixed conditions on the Saturday, 128 races went down the 1,000m course at the British Rowing Masters Championships, sponsored by Visit Sarasota County.
The cross-head wind at Nottingham made for choppy conditions at the start, making it hard for some crews to attach to the stake boats. But thanks to the athleticism of the local Duke of Edinburgh Award young people and the guidance of the umpires, all races were able to get off the start with minimal disruption, and only two capsizes.
The racing was close and exciting throughout Saturday, with a number of photo finishes including in the men’s C double sculls (race 132) , where Exeter RC snatched gold from Hexham RC by two hundredths of a second. While in a non-championships coxless quad race (race 144), Tyne ARC edged out Reading RC on the line to claim gold by 16 hundredths of a second.
The British Rowing Masters Championships is open to competitors aged 27 years and over and with no upper age limit. In one of the older age categories, Ray Green from BTC Southampton took home gold in the I/J (average age 75/80) men’s single sculls, after he was accidentally entered into the Masters Championships by his Chairman.
>>> Find the full results from the British Rowing Masters Championships here
On Sunday, the conditions remained choppy but it didn’t deter any of the crews who raced. There was a number of outstanding races including the women’s C eights, where the composite crew of Ardingly RC and Kingston RC kept out Milton Keynes RC and Broxbourne RC to second and third respectively.
Christopher Anton, Chairman of the British Rowing Masters Championships Organising Committee said: “It has been an excellent Championships, with lots of great racing from all crews. Masters rowing is growing across the country, which we’ve seen here this weekend through both the number and quality of crews racing. None of it, though, would have been possible without the excellent volunteers and umpires who have made this a successful event, and to Visit Sarasota County who have sponsored the Masters Championships for the past three years. And also to the exhibitors who supported the Championships this weekend. A huge thank you to them all, on behalf of the Organising Committee.”
Over the weekend, WEROW, the new media partner of the British Rowing Championships were on hand to capture the magic of racing for competitors and which are available to buy online at werow.co.uk.
For Masters rowers looking for the next race, Sarasota will be hosting the 2018 World Rowing Masters Regatta in September, where conditions are expected to be flatter and warmer than the National Water Sports Centre, Nottingham.
Results
Message from the Race Committee
For the record, a public Official Warning was issued by the Race Committee to Tideway Scullers for unsportsmanlike behaviour at the 2018 British Rowing Masters Championships due to the use of foul or obscene language in the public hearing, use of foul and obscene gestures in the public view, and physically or verbally threatening or abusing another competitor, official, helper or member of the public. Under rule 8-5 of the 2018 Rules of Racing, the Race Committee took the decision to fine the club £250.
