Conditions on the second day of the British Rowing Coastal Championships at Bournemouth were initially everything that a beach sprinter could ask for – a little calmer than yesterday but with waves that still provided fun off the start, and good water beyond that. British Rowing CEO Tom Solesbury spent several hours watching the morning races, and was impressed with the skills on display.
By far the closest racing of the day came in the Mixed Double Sculls. Tom Mitchell (St Andrews University) and Laura McKenzie (Glasgow University) just managed to reverse the results of yesterday’s time trial results, taking gold by just 0.1 seconds from New Zealand international Finn Hamill, from Waikito RC, and Megan Hewison of Molesey BC. Cam Buchan (St Andrews University) and Perri McClusky (Strathclyde Park RC) took the bronze, after losing their semi to Mitchell and McKenzie by 0.1 seconds.
Hamill, whose father Rob is a 1996 Olympian and won of the first Atlantic Rowing Race in 1997, stormed to victory in the Open Solos. finishing 4.7 seconds ahead of St Andrews University BC’s Tom Mitchell, who claimed silver and also earned the title of British Champion. Mitchell’s clubmate Cam Buchan won bronze.
Tom Walker of Exeter University BC took the Open BUCS Solos title by 8.6 seconds from St Andrews University’s Harris Bissett, with Newcastle University BC’s Hal Flowerdew collecting bronze.
Open Junior Solos time trial winner Val Giacchetto of Christchurch RC continued on form, taking gold ahead of clubmate Louie Walker. Final 2 saw the Balkwill twins from Hartpury University and College race each other for the bronze medal, and although Dylan had posted the faster time in the semi-final, it was Gethin who hit the buzzer first on this occasion.
Lymington ARC celebrated an impressive 1-2-3, taking all of the medals in the Open J16 Solos. Alex Breese snatched gold after a ferocious final sprint helped him reach the line 1.2 seconds ahead of Jayden Main. Harry Morgan won Final 2 to secure the bronze medal.
Photo: AllMarkOne
In the Open Masters Solos, Marcus Bateman clocked by far the fastest time in the semi finals but then had to withdraw, injured leaving adaptive athlete Colin Wallace from St Andrews University BC to row over for gold, while Mark Davies of Mumbles ARC took silver ahead of bronze medallist Ben Lukowski of Tynemouth RC. Wallace also won the Mixed Inclusion Double Sculls straight final, with Clare Jamison of Christchurch RC.
As the morning’s side-by-side racing concluded, the onshore cross wind stiffened considerably, unleashing a pack of white horses that presented considerable challenges for the afternoon time trials and ‘Challenge’ Mixed Quads.
Lexi Gill proved herself more than their match, though, winning the Women’s Junior Solos time trial by 2.8 seconds ahead of Emily Lunt of Hexham RC. Queen Elizabeth High School BC’s Isla Mitchell topped the leaderboard in the Women’s J16 Solos.
World bronze medallist in women’s solos Laura McKenzie of Glasgow University finished 6.6 seconds ahead of Inverness RC’s Hannah Gordon in the Women’s Solos time trial, Tash Phillips of St Andrews University BC led the field in Women’s Under 23 Solos, and Ellie Byrne won the Women’s BUCS Solos time trial representing Queen Mary, University of London BC. Bryony Jones of Llanion Warriors was the faster of the 2 entries in Women’s Masters Solos.
Commitment from a boat handler in the Women’s Solos. (Photo: AllMarkOne)
Tom Mitchell (St Andrews University BC) and James Cos (Queen’s Park Chester Rowing Club) came out fastest in the Open Double Sculls time trial, while Elyssa Stoker (City of Sunderland RC) and Brage Wallis (Lymington ARC) won the Mixed Junior Double Sculls time trial.
The knockout rounds, semis and finals for all of these events will take place tomorrow, starting at 9am.
Saturday’s racing ended with Challenge Coxed Quads races, in which a number of competitors were on rapid learning curves. The winning crew was Dylan Balkwill, Gethin Balkwill, Elyssa Stoker and Zara Gray, coxed by Sienna Mordaunt.
Photo: AllMarkOne
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