ROWERS from Towy Boat Club have returned home in a jubilant mood after competing in the World Coastal Rowing Championships in Monaco.
The Championships gave rowers the opportunity to compete against Olympic athletes from more than 26 different countries.
A team of 11 supporters from Towy Boat Club decided to take a trip to Monaco to show the rowers some much appreciated shore-side support, while back at Towy Boat Club, members tuned in to the live feed to watch the action from the comfort of the clubhouse.
“Although a trip to Monaco would have been nice, we thoroughly enjoyed the event’s atmosphere on the live feed. We were deliriously excited when the camera was focused on our rowers and supporters in the crowd and cheered whenever the commentators talked about them. We are tremendously proud of the rowers’ achievement. This has given them valuable experience and will be very beneficial as they prepare for next year’s international race duties,” Nic Thomas, Towy Boat Club’s Rowing Coach told The Herald.
The first challenge the rowers faced in Monaco was to get used to the new model of boats that none of them had rowed before, leaving them to feel like complete novices all over again. With a few days practice, they managed to overcome this and were ready to compete. The standard was high and the races were highly competitive. Both male double crews rowed well. Charlie Kirk and Ben Curtis finished ninth in their championship qualifier, narrowly missing out on the top eight that progressed to the heats. Jac Davies and Tom Miles rowed in the heats and clocked the fasted Welsh time for the event, but sadly it wasn’t enough to see them through to the finals.
The ladies’ crews rowed their way into the finals. Bryony Jones, single lady, came in sixth in her B final, placing her 26th in the world. Swyn Williams and Charlotte Heath rowed an international personal best to reach the ladies double A final. However, unfortunately, they got caught up in a three boat collision at the start of the final. They rowed well, putting themselves back in the middle of the pack, but unable to sustain the momentum over the longer 6km course, they crossed the line in 20th position.
Towy Boat Club are now looking onward to next year’s international racing calendar and are determined to improve on this year’s outstanding performance.
The water back at the club on Monday afternoon (Oct 24) when the crews returned to training was rather chilly compared to the water they had become accustomed to in Monaco.
The crews’ determination to be selected for GB again next year has been heightened with their achievements this year.
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