30/05/06

Gold at Gent for Upper Thames

Gent is the first of the major international regattas in the season and it always attracts a huge entry from most of Europe, with experienced crews coming from Belgium, Holland, Germany and France. This year the regatta attracted a record number of entries and there was a particularly strong contingent from the United Kingdom with crews seeking representation for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales in the Commonwealth Regatta to be held at Strathclyde Park in August.

So, gold medal success for Upper Thames Rowing Club’s Mary-Ann Chalmers in Gent on Saturday 6th May was a major step forward in her career. Coached by Karl Reid and currently trialling for a place in the Scotland team, Mary-Ann joined Maureen McGarvey from Strathclyde Park Rowing Club (also a Scottish triallist) to row in women’s lightweight double sculls.

The field of 11 boats for this event at Gent was narrowed down by heats to a final of five and proved to be an exciting and hard-fought battle with less than 2 seconds separating the medal winners. Crews from Wallingford RC and Nottingham & Union RC took silver and bronze respectively.

Mary-Ann and Maureen teamed up with two other Scottish hopefuls on Sunday 7th May to race in women’s lightweight quadruple sculls, finishing in the third position despite the crew having never rowed together before.

Also at the Gent regatta, Rebecca Sadler (bow) and former world champion Naomi Ashcroft made the finals on both days finishing third in the final of the women’s Open coxless pairs on Sunday in a field of thirteen. They too were reasonably pleased with their result given that their aim is to race lightweight for the rest of the summer.

Finally at Gent, Upper Thames’ Adam Rennie (bow) and Dan Sadler who are also racing as lightweights this year finished a creditable fourth in the men’s Open double sculls against a heavyweight field on both days.