Rowers reach finals (From Free Press Series)

Rowers reach finals

MONMOUTH'S senior rowers fought their way to two finals at the British Veteran Championships in Nottingham to line up against former Great Britain and Cambridge Boat Race rowers.

And despite finishing fifth and sixth in the six-boat finals, the crew were in contention all the way, losing out to the winners by just four and six seconds.

In the coxless four, the crew of Andrew Barnett, James Allison, Nick Hartland and John Owen led their 1,000m heat to half-way before easing up to qualify third just feet behind 2003 veteran champions Hereford and Upper Thames.

A poor start in the final saw them trail the field at 250m before surging back with a big third quarter, hitting the last 250m just three feet down on Cambridge's old boys and a canvas back on second-placed Bradford-on-Avon, stroked by ex-GB international Lee Brown.

But the technical quality of the men they were racing showed in the race for the line, Monmouth hitting 40 strokes a minute but their challenge fading as the other crews extracted maximum run from their boats.

Hereford's boat of ex-elite rowers moved away to win from Bradford, a length and a half up on Monmouth, with Henley-based Upper Thames just getting their bows up on the Wye rowers by 0.3 seconds for fourth.

In the coxed four, with Rhian Hughes steering, Monmouth comfortably qualified third for the final behind Molesey and Bradford with Ross and Hollingworth Lake eliminated.

This time the crew had a flyer off the blocks, leading the field after 20 strokes and still second at 250m.

But the day's efforts in 25 degree temperatures were beginning to catch up, and they were fifth at 500m, though only a second down on second place.

They were still overlapping the leaders with 250m to go, but once again the field accelerated clear in the last 30 strokes, Cambridge's ex-Boat Race men just catching Monmouth on the line for fifth with former Welsh international Stuart Harries' Molesey crew taking gold by feet from Hereford two lengths up on the Wye crew.

"All the guys we were racing have raced at elite level or higher and most of our crew have only done mid-ranking rowing, so we certainly didn't disgrace ourselves," said club captain Andrew Barnett.

"It's great to come up against guys of this quality and give them a real go. We came here hoping to make the finals which we did, they were fantastic races to be in and we were in with a shout almost to the line."

Meanwhile Haberdashers' Monmouth's British Schools' bronze-medal Eight head for Henley Women's Regatta this weekend where they face Monkton Combe in the first round.

"Fingers crossed we should be able to get through that, then we'll have to race Lady Eleanor Holles, who are coached by Sydney Olympic silver medallist Gillian Lindsay, which will be a humdinger," said coach Kate Callaghan. Monmouth Rowing Club is kindly sponsored by Monmouthshire Building Society.