Archive - Tuesday, 1 June 2004


Find by date

Other ways to search

Also look for

Never miss anything again. Sign up for our RSS news feeds and Newsletters.

Regatta hailed a big success

MONMOUTH clubs made a big splash at their first ever two-day event as more than 700 rowers from 42 clubs launched out on the River Wye.

There were nine wins for Monmouth Rowing Club at the 334-boat Monmouthshire Building Society-sponsored event - including a remarkable family double, in more ways than one.

British Schools' medallist Matthew Stott and double sculls partner Peter Butler came home two lengths clear of Cardiff University in their men's sprint final after seeing off Ross in their heat.

But not before mothers Gill Stott and Gina Butler - who took up their sons' sport last year - showed the way home by taking novice women's doubles by a length, also from Cardiff.

Monmouth RC's only surviving member - 102-year-old Fred Pyner - was also fittingly carried to victory in the club's 75th anniversary year when the boat bearing his name was rowed home by the senior women's four.

Abi Goodwin, Louise Allison, Sarah Part, former GB junior Gemma Carfoot and cox Rhian Hughes took the top women's sprint title by beating South Wales rivals Llandaff in the final to claim the pots.

Monmouth's three rowing schools shared 10 victories between them over Sunday's 1500m regatta, while top London outfit Imperial - home of three of the GB Olympic champion 8 - showed their class by taking eight of the main events, with Old Monmothian junior world championship finalist Ben Curtis returning to win two trophies.

For the full story, buy your copy of the Free Press today.