11/08/06

Gold, Silver and Bronze for Upper Thames at Commonwealth Regatta

Representing their respective countries in the Commonwealth Games Regatta last weekend, three members of Upper Thames Rowing Club brought back a total of four medals - one gold, a silver, and two bronze.

Gold star was Dr Adam Rennie who, sculling at bow in the England lightweight quadruple scull, triumphed over the field to win the gold medal.

Mary-Ann Chalmers stroking the women’s lightweight quadruple scull representing Scotland was led by the England crew off the start by a small margin and despite several pushes down the course had to settle for the silver despite recording the fastest time the crew has done over 2000 metres.

In the final of the women’s lightweight double sculls there was practically nothing in it over the full track, with England leading the Canadians by about half a length and Mary-Ann and her partner Maureen McGarvey rowing for Scotland about another half a length behind them. The positions remained unchanged on the line with Mary-Ann and Maureen having to settle for the bronze behind England and Canada in their best time ever by a significant margin.

The only slight disappointment was for Will Hoodless who when leading the field for England in the lightweight single sculls found a “crab” in the waters of the lake at Strathclyde; his blade caught the water, the blade went in undersquared and the boat lurched down to bow side. He recovered quickly but not fast enough to catch South Africa and N.Ireland and he had to settle for a bronze.

The Commonwealth Games Regatta was held at Strathclyde over the weekend of 5th/6th August and attracted crews from South Africa, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Kenya, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. England won with a total of 20 points from 10 gold, 5 silver and 5 bronze with Canada second with 11 points.