On Saturday 11th May 2024 two trailers left Monmouth Rowing Club ahead of Sunday's annual Nottingham City Masters Regatta. The regatta is held at Holme Pierrepoint, a purpose built multi lane rowing lake. The trailers carried 17 boats, 60 rowing blades/oars, 62 riggers, an ergo, a gazebo and 12 pairs of trestles - so both fully loaded.
On Sunday Monmouth fielded 23 different racing crews, from singles to eights and the club had 34 athletes in action from 9 o'clock through to the last race of the day.
MRC Coach Tim Male used the event to test new combinations, giving the first experience of rowing on a multi lane lake with stake-boat starts for some, and a first time representing Monmouth at a regatta for others. Late changes to personnel due to injury/illness made for a logistic nightmare!
As expected the singles races came up against strong opposition at the beginning of the day, with good performances from Tim E [4:05.7], MJ [4:47.4], Jonathan F [4:38.3], and probably the oldest competitor of the day Frances [who was awarded a medal for her performance].
Shortly after the singles it was the turn of the doubles and pairs. The event is organised based on boat class, moving to bigger boats through the day.
Jonathan and Tim E combined to race in the MasG 2x [3:58.4], and in a tight race came second to a powerful Norwich crew. In the women's band 2 E2x Julia and Helen T raced to a time of 4:37.6. Liz N and Mary, also competing in the band 2 category, completed the course in a faster time of 4:29.7.
Race 62 of the day saw Bonita & Ewart [4:22.7] fight out for second place with Sarah C and Darren [4:38.9] in the E2x final. Frances & Andy then raced as H2x, they found the going tough but posted a credible time of 5:11.6.
Next up was the fours. The inexperienced E4x of Ben P, Roland, Andy and Darren made a good fight of the race but trailed home in a time of 4:08.1 - with Ben and Roland making their debuts for MRC at a regatta.
The more experienced coxed 4, racing in a new combination, of Colin, Tim M, Toby, Paul and cox Taryn, stormed to a commanding lead over Nottingham to win the E4+ title in a time of 3:41.9.
Cox Denize put her WE4+ crew of Ellen, Kathryn K, Sara, and Dawn B through their paces to record a time of 4:22.5. Next race up it was the turn of the womens E 4+ of Mary, Liz N, Shelagh, Julia and cox Bonita, producing a time of 4:41.3.
Another eagerly awaited race saw 2 MRC crews battle it out in the Women's F 4x; MJ, Paula (in her first regatta race for MRC) Liz N & Liz L made their experience count [4:19.3] as they overcome a dogged start from their club mates of Frances, Clare, Helen K, and Sarah C [4:46.6].
The Monmouth mixed D4x of Tim E, Kathryn K, Louise T & Tim M fought hard to stay in contention but were beaten in a time of 3:46.7. With their opponents failing to turn up to the start, the Mixed E4x of Toby, Ewart, Dawn B and Bonita enjoyed a relatively leisurely row down the course before picking up their medals. The last of the 4 races saw the women's 4- of Mary, MJ, Paula & Liz L [4:27.2] found themselves up against old adversaries Weybridge and despite their best efforts could not secure the win.
Then it was the turn of the big boats. The men's E8 of Tim E, Tim M, Colin, Jonathan, Toby, Ben P, Paul, Roland and cox Taryn failed to make up the handicap afforded to Nottingham, coming in second place. Following the men down the course the women's D8 [4:19.5] of Ellen, Kathryn K, Helen T, Sara P, Dawn B, Julia, Shelagh, Denize and cox Bonita faced off against a very strong looking Broxbourne eight, coming in third place. A very rapid turnaround saw rowers trading seats as two mixed Monmouth crews rowed back up to the start to face each other in the final race of the day, competing against each other and a much younger Yare crew [from Norwich]. The A crew of Colin, Tim M, Paul, Ben P, Mary, Liz L, Louise T, Bonita & cox Taryn showed their experience by racing to an early lead and averaging a rate of 36 strokes per minute, which they were able to cross the line in a time of 3:37.4. The less experienced crew of Roland, Andy, Ewart, Darren, Paula, Sarah C, Shelagh, Denize and cox Sara fought a great battle against the youngsters from Yare, coming home in a time of 4:08.8.
A full days racing providing further information to coach Tim as he selects crews for the up and coming British Maters Regatta. The event helped individuals benchmark where they are against other clubs, and to be able to enjoy racing again - a lot of events have fallen prey to the weather this year.
Thanks to Helen and Paul for towing, Tim and Liz for sorting crews, all the coxes & steers people and to Sue Bezani who was a fantastic help to all crews throughout the day.
Full results can be found on the Notts City Regatta X (Twitter) page .
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