Sunday 22nd May 2022 saw nine crews from Monmouth Rowing Club (MRC) make the long journey up to Nottingham's purpose built rowing lake at Holme Pierepoint, to take part in their first regatta of the season. The masters crews [all over 27 years old] took on the 1,000m course in reasonable weather, with some headwind to contend with too.
An early start saw coach Tim Male in his single, having an eye on his next race he used the time to get back into the race rhythm. 3 races later, Mark Stewart-Woods took the prize in his masters E single in a time of 4:04.1mins. The 2 then combined to emphatically win the double [category D] in a time of 3:47.5.
Next on the water was the men's coxed D4 of Matt Winters, Simon Lee, Paul Bezani, James Allison and cox Liz Lewis. Despite limited water time together the crew used their experience to get over the line first, in a time of 4:03.3mins.
Taking part in her first ever regatta, Anna Williams joined Sue Smith, Sara Part, Dawn Brace and cox Mary Miller in the women's C4. A great race where the crew pushed the eventual winners [Nottingham City] very hard, another couple of hundred meters may have given the MRC crew victory; a credible time into a headwind of 4:45.7. Races were then coming thick and fast, along with visits to the winners pontoon. The men's F4- of Andrew Barnett, Nick Hooton, Colin Lewis, an Peter Kelsall battled to overcome a strong Bedford 4 to record a win in the time of 3:47.8.
Next race down the course was the women's E4- of Louise Allison, Sue Smith, Mary Miller and ladies captain Liz Lewis. A great race, in a time of 4:18.7mins, saw them approach the winners pontoon as the F4 were leaving.
The men's D crew went out for their second race of the day, without a cox, and found the age handicap too much to make up, coming home third in a time of 4:03.2mins.
Jumping out of the D4-, Matt Winters donned a lifejacket, grabbed a cox box and jumped into the Mixed 8 crew, a crew made up of Andrew Barnett, Nick Hooton, Colin Lewis, Jonathan Keyte, Louise Allison, Sue Smith, Mary Miller and Liz Lewis. The crew had a 7 second head start over their much younger opposition from Bradford, and was able to stay ahead from start to finish, winning in a time of 3:44.9mins, Bradford have made up 2 seconds recording a time of 3:49.3.
Overall, a great days racing; always a challenge to get back into regatta racing, multi lane racing and stakeboat starts. Coach Tim male was very satisfied that clear progress was being made, but reminded the crews that the work needs to ramp up! Bragging rights went to Liz Lewis, picking up 3 medals on the day. No racing for the crews on the weekend of 28th and 29th May, they will all be helping at the annual regatta hosted by MRC. Racing on Saturday from 9:30am to 5pm, Sunday from 9:00am to 5pm. Crews from around the UK, including the Monmouth schools, will have the opportunity to race on one of the most picturesque stretches of water in the UK. Spectators are welcome, and entry is free.