Stainforth’s fourth gold just oarsome

INDOOR ROWING

DURHAM’S Roger Stainforth claimed a fourth successive British Indoor Rowing Championship title in the 70-74 age category.

The Championships, at London’s 2012 Olympic Velodrome at Lea Valley Velopark, were the biggest yet.

Two thousand one hundred competitors took part in 72 different races over the course of the day, using 80 Concept2 ergometers.

Competitors ranging in age between 11 and 94 were allocated to races according to their age group, with additional races for para athletes.

Stainforth, despite being 10 seconds slower than the British record he set in 2015, recorded 7min 18.7sec in winning his age group by 24 seconds.

In doing so he remained undefeated at the national championships since the event relocated to Lea Valley in February 2015.

Stainforth (pictured right), a member of Durham Amateur Rowing Club, built on earlyseason successes at the North East Indoor Rowing Championships in Durham, where he achieved 7.21.5, and at the Welsh Indoor Championships in Cardiff (7.23.7) during November.

Through his approach to training and his achievements in indoor rowing Stainforth has provided inspiration to many, further success coming in September this year.

He was a member of a team of 17 who assembled in Cornwall to set a world record of 5hrs 45min 8.1sec for the 100km relay for rowers aged over 70.

Stainforth competed at Lea Valley alongside five-times Olympic cycling gold medallist Sir Bradley Wiggins, who was attempting to launch a new career in indoor rowing and break into the GB squad for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

However, contesting the open senior category, Wiggins faltered after an early hesitation saw him achieve 6min 22.5 for the 2,000metres for 21st position – 20 seconds adrift of his target. ■■MORE rowing reports will be in Grassroots Sport soon.