BRITISH ROWING OFFSHORE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Exmouth provided the stunning backdrop of the British Rowing Offshore Championships and Beach Sprints on July 16th-18th. The town showed its visitors everything it has to offer, and Exmouth Rowing Club made its own splash at the event too. Crews from all over the UK gathered in the summer heatwave for the first big offshore rowing competition since Covid restrictions began.

Whilst a little sea swell always makes for exciting coastal race conditions, the biggest challenge for competitors and spectators was staying cool and hydrated in the blistering sunshine.

In the British Rowing Offshore competition, competitors start in the water alongside their boat and on the whistle, they jump in, and row out round several buoys that mark out a 4km or 6km course. A slick, swift start puts a crew in the best place for a good race, and there can be a lot of jockeying for position with other crews at turns where much needed water can be gained on a competitor.

In the Beach Sprints competition, when the boats get back to the shore, one rower leaps out and sprints to the finish line 10-50 metres up the beach. Dramatic sand dives are optional but highly photogenic!

In the women’s Offshore Double Sculls final on Friday 16th, Exmouth Rowing Club and Tideway rowers Anna Childs and Judith Shulz defended their 2018 title and brought home the gold medal ahead of St Andrew’s University rowers Cameron and White. Jersey took the win in the Open Quads Masters, with a second place for the composite crew coxed by Exmouth RC cox Anna Childs.

Christchurch RC took the win in the Women’s Quads Masters; but there was a Silver for the Exmouth RC rowers Morag Van Niekerk and Suzanne Isaacs who also rowed in a composite crew.

On Saturday, the day’s round of 6km finals were raced on perfect, calm sea conditions making the racing fast and furious. The Men’s (Open) Coastal Quads began proceedings and saw the Exmouth RC of Jon Houghton, Piers Webster, Joe Stafford, Finn Crowther and cox Richard Robinson crew deliver a fifth place, whilst the Barbarian Exmouth RC/Bristol City RC/Christchurch RC composite crew blazed across the line after just 24 mins for a gold medal. Coxed by Anna Childs and stroked by Will Loftus, Exmouth RC was on a medal winning roll!

Next up was the Women’s Coastal Quads. After a fantastic start for both the Exmouth RC crew of Millie Currans, Caroline Robson, Fiona Pink and cox Richard Robinson and the Exmouth/Tideway composite that included Exmouth Rowers Morag Van Niekerk and Anna Childs, it was a hard-fought race for all medal positions. Whilst the Exmouth/Tideway crew secured a silver medal after a tough battle with gold medal winners Jersey RC, Exmouth RC missed out on a third place after losing their lead on Runcorn RC on the second turn.

The final offshore race of the day brought all eyes onto the Men’s (Open) Single Scull event. Representing Exmouth RC with Will Loftus who was hungry for a medal. He didn’t disappoint and cruised to a gold medal victory over Jersey’s Nevitt with a 48 second lead.

Sunday provided much excitement for local spectators as the Beach Sprints got underway. In adrenalin filled sprints down and up the beach, as well as around markers on a 250m slalom course; the outgoing tide made navigation a challenge for the single and double scull competitors. Racing multiple races; the athletes showed off their skill and fitness despite the crippling sun and hot temperatures.

Around 50 crews came and supported the two day Championships and there was a fantastic party vibe on the beach as holiday makers, visiting competitors and locals enjoyed the glorious weather. Official photography was provided by Exmouth’s Tom Hurley and safety boat and local water knowledge from Exmouth RC volunteers and friends.

The 2021 British Rowing Offshore Championships was warm up to the World Rowing Coastal Championships with take place in Portugal in October. Both the British Rowing and World Offshore events will take place in Saundersfoot, West Wales in 2022.