Hexham RC as Fast as Lightening at the British Masters Rowing Championships last weekend.
There was a packed Hexham Rowing Club trailer enroute to the National Watersports Centre at Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham last weekend for the 2024 GB Masters Championships with the fireworks due to start with racing across both days of the regatta. Competing in singles, doubles, quads, fours and eights, Hexham had a healthy entry this year.
First out of the blocks were the E2x, Kevin sculling with Mick from DARC, qualified for the final as 3rd fastest crew. Closely followed by the WB4x of Elizabeth, Shor, Helena and Catherine who cruised into their final as fastest quad.
These positions held for both crews finals, with the double taking a bronze medal and the quad winning GOLD to become national champions.
Helena then raced in LW singles, followed by George in I singles. Although neither managed a medal, the winner of Georges race Tom B previously rowed at the Montreal Olympics in 1976 in the GB quad scull.
It was then onto the big boats with Hexham ladies Elizabeth, Catherine, and Shor joined by Suzanne to compete in the Non Championship Women’s Over 36 event, in a crew with 4 DARC athletes. The crew stormed to victory to take a second GOLD medal.
Elated by these results the crowds attention was drawn from the lake to the skies as the Heavens opened in a biblical deluge, quickly followed by rumbles of thunder. Racing was suspended, as a huge lightening strike hit the electronic scoreboard in a deafening crack. Fortunately the weather cleared but not before some races, including the Hexham ladies Non Championship four had been cancelled. However, the organisers then decided to rearrange the cancelled events for Sunday morning.
Sunday dawned with the promise of no more storms. That was until Hexham ladies non championship coxed four of Catherine, Elizabeth, Suzanne and Shor, coxed by Helena came thundering down the course, neck and neck with Walton. Nobody knew who had won when they crossed the line, until the umpire announced Walton as victors by 0.1 second. A great race.
The next Hexham race was Kevin in a composite coxless E4 with Tyne RC. Unable to overhaul their opponents the crew finished third with another bronze medal in the bag for Hexham RC.
The Ladies were back in Championship coxed 4s, finishing fourth, which is a great achievement for a crew who predominantly scull and have only competed this year as a four.
Jenny and Steve were up next in Non Championship doubles as the waves got a bit lively with an increasing breeze. The crew had a great race, finishing second, way ahead of the rest of the field.
Shor then stepped up to race in Non Championship singles and also finished second, despite a storming finish, resonant of Saturdays lightening.
Rob and John then raced in Non Championship G2x and despite not winning had a great race, only being overhauled by their local rivals Talkin Tarn in the final stages.
The final Hexham RC race was Womens Non Championship quads, with Jenny, Shor, Suzanne and Helena racing in tough conditions, with an increasing wind and even tougher competition.
The final Hexham medal tally was one gold championship, two bronze championship and one gold non championship medals. Not a bad haul for a little club from the north of England with 800metres of water.
GO TEAM HEXHAM….
