Masters National Championships

The Master’s National Championships were held on the hottest day of the year so far in a radical departure from the normal rainswept conditions. Thames RC sent a slightly smaller squad than normal, but enjoyed significant success.

Carrie Thomas, representing the Thames women, did not medal in the scull, but went on to win the first Thames gold of the day in the Women’s Masters Open A double scull, partnering Deben RC.

With an early morning start the quad of Panter, Curtis, Collett and Watkiss, no longer eligible to enter IM3 events having been previous IM3 winners, continued their quest for a medal in the Masters E Open quad at British Masters. Their rivals turned up in force and although they continue to close the gap they were denied a chance to the final. Subsequently, in the Masters F Open double, Curtis and Watkiss got through their heat to race in the final later in the day, achieving a creditable 4th in their first attempt at lane racing in a double.

The scond gold of the day came in the blue riband Masters C Open men’s Eight. Having had to scratch their C4+ due to injury, 3 of that crew, Messrs Dooley, Hume and Seddon combined with rowers from Tyrian RC with whom they have rowed a number of times this year. Despite being slightly down off the start to a very strong Monmouth crew and a (relatively) young and well drilled London crew the crew maintained high stroke rate and good length to lead fractionally by the half way point, despite having been told that it was almost required for any Tyrian crew to be down at halfway. Once the lead was established the narrow lead grew steadily and Thames/Tyrian crossed the line about half a length ahead of Monmouth who were chased hard by LRC. The winning time proved to be the fastest of the day in any event and was especially satisfying after the rather dubious results from the Veteran’s Head of the River.