British crews triumph at 2024 World Rowing Masters Championships

The concerted efforts of many clubs led to multiple medals over five days of racing in Brandenburg, Germany

With age groups from Masters A up to I (75+), and rowers aged from 26 (being in the year of their 27th birthday) up to 94, and events for a full range of seven boat classes, with mixed racing in the final day, the World Rowing Masters Regatta for club crews is by far the largest World Rowing event in the calendar. This year’s regatta saw multiple races across 148 separate events on the eight-lane, involving 4,843 entries representing 723 different clubs from 50 countries. Conditions on the Beetzsee Regatta Course were rough on the first and last days, but much better for the middle three.

Jacqueline Easton

Marlow RC finished third in the Women’s Overall Trophy (Victrix Ludorum). Jacqueline Easton was one of the most successful athletes from Marlow’s total of 46 entries (including composites), with a phenomenal five-medal haul. Her wins included Women’s F Single sculls; Women’s E and F Double sculls with Fiona Betts of Tideway Scullers School; and Women’s F Quadruple sculls in a composite with Fiona Betts, and Sarah Kell and Judith Burne of Upper Thames RC; and Mixed Masters F Double sculls. Burne and Kell also won Women’s Masters E and F Pairs, while Burns won Women’s E and F Double sculls with her perennial rowing partner Helen Mangan, all of Upper Thames.

These results helped Upper Thames to fourth place in the Combined Overall Trophy. Monmouth RC were third and Reading RC fourth in the Men’s Overall Trophy.

Other British women who won in single sculls winners included Naomi Holland of Upper Thames RC (Mas A), Ailie Ord of Strathclyde Park RC (Mas F) and Anne Grainger of Wallingford RC (Mas F). 80-year old Mary Bromilow of Upper Thames RC was second in Mas I-M. In the men’s events,  the medal winners included Dominic Parnell of Brentford Masters BC (Mas A); David Smith of Leicester RC (Mas A and B); Steven Sidaway of Warwick BC (Mas B and E); Kevin Spence of Fairlop RC (Mas E); Roger Stephens of Bradford on Avon RC, Duncan Gwilliam of Stourport BC, and David Hope of Upper Thames RC (all Mas F); Graham Price of Newark RC (Mas G); and Rod Stewart of Upper Thames RC (Mas H and I).

In the eights, a composite from Upper Thames/Bradford on Avon/Ardingly won Men’s Mas F, while Durham ARC/Tees RC won Men’s Mas G.  Strathclyde Park/Upper Thames/Wallingford won Mixed Mas G.

Racing at the World Masters Regatta isn’t always about winning, however. For many club crews and scullers, it’s a target for training, with the enjoyment of taking part and rowing well being the main goals. Laura Cowan and Ching Kilby from Minerva Bath RC and Bradford on Avon RC raced in Women’s Masters E and F Double sculls, finishing sixth and fourth, which they were rightly pleased with as 5’2″ super lightweights. The regatta rounded off a successful domestic season for the crew.

Photos: Fiona Betts.