Rowers taste success in Belgium

Two Warwick Boat Club crews made the trip to Hazewinkel in Belgium last week, joining more than 11,000 rowers from 49 countries, to compete at the World Rowing Masters Regatta. Hopeful of success after their National Masters Championship title, Paul Gosling and Andre Delahaye competing in the Masters C category double sculls for 43-50 year olds led from start to finish in their 1000m race on their first visit to the World Masters. “The format is a little unusual so luck plays a role, but the competition is tough and we were delighted with our win” said Gosling. Racing again in the in Masters A category for 27-36 year olds in pouring rain, they were unable to repeat their success and despite a strong second half finished two seconds behind the winners.

Andrew Collett, Thomas Grinstead, Philip Tonkin and Christopher Bailey racing in the Masters A category coxless fours for 27-36 year olds put in a strong first 500m in their race, but could not sustain their challenge in the second half and finished without a medal. Rowing captain Grinstead said “we were a bit disappointed, but we have not been rowing together for long and this is the top rowing Masters event in the world”.

Both crews teamed up with rowers from other clubs for some extra racing. Gosling and Delahaye joined with rowers from Ardingly rowing club in Kent to race in the category C quadruple sculls, while the coxless four teamed up with rowers from York Rowing Club to race in the category A eights, with the eight coming closest to success, finishing two lengths behind the winner. “Sometimes these scratch crews work, sometimes they don’t” said Delahaye, “but they are as much about the social aspect of rowing as the racing”.