Senior members of St Neots Rowing Club put in gutsy performances against experienced opposition at the British Masters Rowing Championships in Nottingham on Sunday.

Rowing

SENIOR members of St Neots Rowing Club put in gutsy performances against experienced opposition at the British Masters Rowing Championships in Nottingham on Sunday.

Helen Knowles was the busiest Saint in action, competing in four categories in all. She started the day in the Mixed Masters coxed eight category with Alison Brown, Graham Mailer, Clive Emmerson, Drew Scott, Mick Staddon, Natasha Wilson, Dionne Page and Sarah Porteus (cox). Heavily handicapped, the Saints team looked likely to take a superb win but despite making up 10 seconds they were still left four seconds adrift of winners Monmouth.

The women were in action again later in the day, racing in the Women’s Masters C coxed four but, after a good first half of the race, they failed to match a strong Hereford crew who went on to win.

Knowles had an eventful race in the Women’s Masters C Intermediate 3 single scull. After a poor start she closed in on the other two scullers and took second spot just half a second behind the Cardiff sculler. In the Masters C championship singles event, against a field including an ex-Olympian, Knowles enjoyed her best race of the day and was able to take fourth spot just shy of the winners.

Clive Emmerson and Graham Mailer took part in the Masters C coxless pairs and looked comfortable in the first half of the race but tired badly in a race won by Henley.

Mick Staddon was last up in the Masters C novice singles. In his debut at the event he performed well and gathered valuable experience, but finished well down on the other rowers.

Club captain and coach Ed Porteus said: “All the Saints raised their game and gave as good as they got. For some it was their first taste of multi-lane sprint racing and despite no wins I was very pleased with everyone’s performance, giving more experienced competitors a run for their money”.