“The closest finish we’ve ever had”: 0.3 seconds separate Open D Eight medals at British Rowing Masters Championships
Kingston RC, Portora BC and Walbrook RC were in podium position at the halfway point – enter the Minerva Bath RC cox
Credit: AllMarkOne
“Yes, Kingston – it was you!” the medal pontoon marshal called through the megaphone at three crews squinted at the scoreboard, trying to determine their medal colour.
1.27 seconds separated 1st and 4th in Heat 1 of the Open D Eights, with less than a second between 1st and 2nd in Heat 2. Everything was pointing to one of the most exciting finals of the British Rowing Masters Championships so far.
At 500m, it was Ireland’s Portora Boat Club in the lead, with Kingston RC hot on their heels 0.4 seconds back. “We knew we were in with a chance from our heat, but the final is always a whole different kettle of fish.” said Kingston cox Susie Spires. “We had to go early and commit to that final 400m. You never know as a cox when you build whether it’s going to fall apart, so I was telling them ‘fourth or first, boys, fourth or first’ in time with the stroke to keep them together. We locked in – it was bow ball to bow ball.”
Credit: AllMarkOne
“We were jockeying with Portora.” said Tom Wheeton sitting in two. “We had them off the start, they drew back on us in the middle of the race. It was in the last 200m. We practiced that wind, and that sustained us.”
Meanwhile Minerva Bath Rowing Club was back in 5th, gaining on Bewl Bridge RC and Walbrook RC in 3rd and 4th respectively – just 0.8 seconds back to Agecroft RC in 6th.
“We were rowing at 90% through to the 500m and then we changed plan.” Ed Haddon, seven of the Minverva boat recounted. “Our cox Maggie called 250m at the 300m, that’s what did it.” He joked.
Charlie Pearson was sitting at two. “Legs call, followed by another legs call, followed by another one. We were confident – the boat picked up. We felt this amazing rhythm and kept going.”
It was a game of inches across the line, followed by a long pause as the crews caught their breath and turned their eyes to the National Water Sports Centre’s iconic scoreboard.
Boh Tjarks of Kingston RC crossed the line first in bow, but it was anyone’s guess who had won. “It was so tight, we couldn’t tell the difference, it was the closest finish we’ve ever had.”
“I had no idea whatsoever.” Susie said. “We didn’t hear it on the commentary – one of our crew spotted it on the scoreboard.”
“It was a magic feeling – when you start rowing through a crew. You know something is happening. “
Kingston RC had taken the victory by 0.27 seconds. But charging from behind and taking silver on the surge was Minerva Bath Rowing Club, bow number punching over the line ahead of the Irish crew.
“Over 1000m – 0.3 seconds difference between the medals is insane.” Said Kingston’s Tom Wheeton.
Portora’s Club Captain Chris Allen was happy with their result. “We knew we were close to a medal. It was very tight – looking at the times we can see that. I wasn’t sure if we’d made it to be completely honest – sitting in the stroke seat I was further back and couldn’t tell. We’re an E crew, so we’re racing again this afternoon. Hopefully if we can race like that again, we’ll have a chance.” The crew went on to take gold in the Open E Eights.
“This was our first row in that line up,” Minerva’s Ed said. “It was quite exciting. The heat was solid and the first half of our final was solid. Then it was exciting when the boat took off and our cox started screaming ‘We can get them!’ at the top of her lungs. It was a magic feeling – when you start rowing through a crew. You know something is happening. To lose by two feet is always slightly bittersweet, you think ‘one more stroke’! But being in a scratch line up, we’re really chuffed to get silver.”
“It’s been hectic racing today,” Charlie recounted, coming off the water after his second race of the day, this time in a four. “It’s been non-stop. We’re looking forward to a lie down!” Minerva Bath had wins across the country this weekend, as South West GB Performance Development Academy athlete Josh Knight won gold at Reading Regatta in the Open Single Sculls. “We’d love to borrow Josh for a race!” joked Charlie.
Suzie reflected on the crew’s preparation after receiving her gold medal. “We’re a big squad at Kingston RC, it’s a lot of scratch crews that go out on the weekend. We’ve tried as a crew to get together during the week and stick together doing double sessions on the weekend. It’s really hard when you have surgeons in the boat – we’ve been going out at 8:30pm in the evenings. But it’s paid off.”
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Find full results and photos from the British Rowing Masters Championships here
