Warwick Crews Conquer the Rhine Marathon at Dusseldorf

On 3rd October 2015 at around midday, two Warwick crews took to the River Rhine at Leverkusen to row the 26 miles down river to Dusseldorf as part of the second leg of the WBC ‘two marathons in two weeks’ challenge.

Two weeks ago a Warwick Eight rowed a record time at the 31 mile Boston Marathon course at Lincoln, joined by a gig boat team from Ruderclub Germania Dusseldorf, with whom Warwick has struck up a long distance rowing relationship! (Click here for the Boston race report). 

Now it was time for the Germans to play host as we rowed their well-established international annual event.
Gill Benson, Ed Walker and Rich Nicholson from the Boston record breaking crew were joined by the fresh legs of Rachael Batho to make up a mixed sweep oar crew, one of only 7 sweep oar crews in the 150-strong field.  Emma Reynolds, Kate Evans, Jo Nurse and Lisa Brooks formed the second Warwick crew and were the only all woman sweep oar crew in the field.  Most crews competing in the Rhine Marathon are sculling crews, which is both quicker and more stable on the choppy waters of the Rhine.  Both crews also had to contend with rowing in gig boats – more stable but also a lot heavier than the traditional fine racing boats they are accustomed to.  The mixed crew even had to put their boat together on the morning when it arrived in bits from the boat house.  But Warwick loves a challenge! 

As well playing excellent hosts to Warwick at both the pre and post race parties, the Ruderclub Germania Dusseldorf also provided two very experienced coxes in the form of Thomas Haarhus and Markus Koesters – both have licenses to cox on the turbulent, dangerous and congested waters of the Rhine, which is a requirement of the race.   They coxed both crews to very respectable first time results.

The mixed crew came in at 2 hours 49 mins, with the all woman crew close behind in 3 hours and 1 minute.  We later discovered that the Rhine was unusually low and slow and this made all crews 10-15 minutes slower than usual.
For finishing within the cut off time of 3 hours 30 minutes, both Warwick crews were awarded a coveted finisher’s medal.  In addition, the all woman crew also won their category (women’s sweep oar) – mainly by being the only people in it!  As a result Warwick has an official category winner’s photo on the Rhine Marathon website, where you can also find out more information on the event itself: http://www.rcgd.de/index.php?article_id=1783# - Warwick are towards the end of the photos.

Both Boston and the Rhine marathons were rowed for charity. The mixed four were rowing in aid of Medecins Sans Frontieres – to find out more and to donate, please click here.  The women’s four were rowing for four charities and you can donate to these here: Emma - Manchester Ronald McDonald House; Kate – Age UK; Jo – Alzheimers Society; Lisa – St Basils.  Both crews would like to thank all those who have donated their time and money so generously to make the Marathon Challenge a success.  Their Just Giving pages are all still open in case anyone would still like to contribute and make those blisters all the more worth it!  Now for next year’s challenge!

The Crews & Coxes shortly after finishing the race.  Back row l-r: Rich Nicholson, Gill Benson, Rachael Batho, Ed Walker, Markus Koesters, Emma Reynolds, Kate Evans; front row l-r: Thomas Haarhus, Lisa Brooks, Jo Nurse.

Presentation to category winners – all woman sweep oar.  L-r: Emma Reynolds, Kate Evans, Jo Nurse, Markus Koesters (cox), Lisa Brooks.