Silvers for all at Masters Champs

Eleven medals (from left): Gordon, Celia, Julia, Graeme, Sam and Nick

Six Lakeland members made the journey south to compete at the British Rowing Masters Championships at The National Watersports Centre, Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham, and they all came away with at least one silver medal. 

Gordon Jack was first on the water, competing in the open masters D singles against rowers up to 18 years his junior, as a scheduling clash prevented him racing in his own age category.

In only their second race together, a mixed masters E coxless quad made up of of Graeme Mactavish, Nick Cowan, Sam Ayers and Julia McCumiskey took silver spot in the final, narrowly losing out to a crew from Molesey BC. 

A short time later, it was the turn of Celia Whittam in the women’s masters G singles. By now, a hefty head wind was blowing up the lake, and one competitor capsized while attempting to attach to the stake boat. Celia held her nerve, rowing a hard race to achieve solo silver.

Towards the end of the day, all six rowers competed in the mixed doubles. Celia and Gordon took silver in the G category (for crews with an average age of 65-69), followed by further silvers for Julia and Graeme rowing in E (average age 55-59) and Sam and Nick in F (60-64).

Club captain Julia said, “While we love racing across the north of England, it’s good to come further afield and compete against some of the well-known clubs from the south.

“Although there were only six of us from Lakeland competing, we had lots of support from family and friends, and other rowers from the northern clubs were shouting for us from the banks.”