Llandaff Regatta 2026

MJ and Laura

Single-Handed Success (and a Double Helping of Gold..or banana yellow) at Llandaff Regatta

While many of the Monmouth crew was away battling it out at the Henley Masters Regatta last weekend, the indefatigable MJ stayed closer to home to fly the club colours solo at the Llandaff Regatta.

And fly them she did!

Eighty Years of Llandaff RC and a 500m Dash

Celebrating a massive milestone, 2026 marks 80 years since Llandaff Rowing Club was established which made the usual Sunday 500m sprint course even more dramatic.

As anyone who has raced Llandaff knows, the 500m sprint is "blink-and-you'll-miss-it" fast. But the real excitement happens at the finish line. Because of the rather close proximity of a very unforgiving weir just past the finish, crossing the line requires immediate, emergency braking. Think less "graceful glide" and more "slamming on the anchors" before you go over the edge!

MJ Cleans Up!

MJ entered the WMas F/G x1 (Women's Masters G single scull) and faced off against Upton in a straight final. Showing absolute class, she took the win to claim her first gold of the day.

But she wasn't done there.

Teaming up in a composite double (WMas F x2) with Laura from Minerva Bath, the duo decided to enter just for the sheer fun of it. Talk about a throwback—MJ and Laura last rowed together in a successful quad six years ago, and hadn't been in a boat together since!

Their preparation for the race? A highly technical, gruelling, and exhaustive three-stroke start on the way up to the start line.

Clearly, that was all the chemistry they needed. Pitted against tough crews from Gloucester and City of Bristol, MJ and Laura stormed down the course to take the win. To boot, their double victory even came with a fantastic trophy to hold!

Also well done to all the Monmouth Comprehensive School crews who raced on the longer 1000m course on Saturday.

A massive thank you to Llandaff Rowing Club for hosting yet another superbly run, incredibly welcoming, and action-packed event. Here’s to another 80 years of fantastic racing (and dramatic emergency braking)!