Strong winds blow away British Masters Championships
THE British Rowing Masters Rowing Championships 2017 held on the wide and exposed rowing lake at The National Water Sports Centre came to a premature end when strong winds gusting to 30 mph caused racing to be abandoned midway through the Sunday schedule.
Three out of the six Loughborough crews who had entered were therefore unable to race, and those crews that did compete on the 1,000 metre course were hindered by a heavy swell and the unpredictable gusts.
At the start line, all boats struggled to manoeuvre into reach of the Duke of Edinburgh Award volunteers who were bravely and somewhat perilously manning the floating start pontoons, to which the stern must be attached prior to the gun.
However, Vicky Haines and Emma Heygate skilfully locked on to the start gate at first attempt in their Women’s Masters D Pair but in unfamiliar water conditions they never quite reached their full potential once the race had started, finishing fifth overall.
The weather during the Saturday races had also been demanding, but Women’s Masters A Double Scullers Cathy and Annie Beaumont won their group eliminator stage as the fastest finishers. In the final itself they then improved on their time from the heat but came home just out of the medal positions in fourth place, behind strong crews from Warwick, Maidstone Invicta, and Tyne United Boat Clubs.
Mixed Masters E Double Scullers Jen Smith and Mike Targett also had to battle hard against the conditions and will be hoping for calmer waters for their race at the Canadian Masters Championships in Vancouver next month.