Flood takes women’s title whilst Nichol takes surprise second at the season’s big indoor rowing event

Double Olympic silver medallist Debbie Flood won the season’s big indoor rowing event at the weekend in Birmingham in a time of 6:52.2.

Competing at the National Indoor Arena, the Olympic silver medallist was pleased with her win despite only recently returning to training after a year out:  “I’m pleased with my time today, although I know I can do better. I have to be realistic as I haven’t got back into my training pattern properly yet”.

Cameron Nichol, from the GB Rowing Teams’ squad, was a close second to surprise winner and former England Rugby player Garath Archer who took the men’s open title in 5:51.1, just five tenths ahead of Nichol. 

Five times former champion and pre-event favourite Graham Benton had to pull out on the day due to an injury.
 
Nichol said:  “I achieved an unexpected personal best today which I’m really pleased about. I tried to stay with Garath for as long as possible and was close behind him for the whole race, coming in particularly strong in the last 500m”.

GB Rowing’s Steve Rowbotham took bronze in 5:52.8 and the GB squad also took places four to 12 and 14th.   Head men’s coach, Jurgen Grobler, is a supporter of the event and likes to give his rowers the chance for a mid-winter competition.