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The Olympic Regatta wasn’t the only rowing event happening in late July. Andy Cox reports from Devon

Don’t miss out on the camp – it could be fun!

Celebrating adaptive rowing

Porthtowan’s Black & Blue power off the beach

The last weekend of July saw a spectacular rowing event: not the international, multi-billion pound extravaganza that was the Olympics, rather the UK Open Surfboat Championships held at Saunton Sands on Devon’s north coast. Conditions were tricky, with two to three feet of surf and a stiff onshore breeze. The action came thick and fast, with points from three opening ‘round robin’ heats dictating which crews would reach the later rounds.

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There were a number of teams, however, who were intent on bringing their run of victories to an end. A Biarritz crew – inexplicably called Tom of Finland – had returned hoping to improve on their bronze medal at last year’s event. An Australian Exiles boat, Jan Juc, had former Olympic rowers in it and was swept by Aussie legend Scott Tannahill. Bude Barracudas, former European champions, were something of a dark horse, while Croyde Kangaroos and Perranporth Tridents both had much-improved crews.

There’s still time to book your place on British Rowing’s National Adaptive Development Camp! Held at the London Regatta Centre on 7-9 September 2012, the camp will include: • On-the-water coaching and racing. • Rigging for adaptive boats seminar. • Classification for new rowers. • FISA umpire training. • Opportunities to meet GB Rowing Team coaches. • High performance talks from GB Rowing

Team rowers. To find out more or to book your place, contact Brian Smyth at Brian Smyth at brian.smyth@britishrowing.orgbrian.smyth@britishrowing.org semi, Jan Juc qualified comfortably but Biarritz were eliminated.

The ladies’ final saw Black & Blue and the Sirens power off the beach and out through the surf side-by-side. However, the Porthtowan boat was

In the ladies’ event, the Bournemouth Makos boat broached early on, causing Melissa White to be unceremoniously dumped into the water. Hannah Dodds also suffered a painful thumb injury, as crews struggled to cope with the tricky conditions. The novice rowers in Porthtowan’s second boat, Blue Moon, found the going equally tough, and both crews scratched from the final. Porthtowan’s Black & Blue edged Perranporth Sirens two-one across the three heats, with Bude Boomerangs and Croyde Cougars keeping the two favourites honest. “I was pleased with the two wins,” said Porthtowan’s bow, Kim-Marie Clothier. “But I knew the other crews had saved something for the final.”

In the men’s event, Porthtowan’s Blue Bali were the crew to catch as runaway leaders of the Summer Series league.

THAT WAS HARD WORK – REALLY THAT WAS HARD WORK – REALLY INTENSE RACING, AND WAVES THAT

COULD TAKE ANYONE OUT

Blue Bali won the opening heat, as Biarritz and the Titans surfed the same wave home – their oars almost overlapping. In the second round Bali were caught out by a sneaker set and very nearly rolled, which would have led to their disqualification. They finished a chastened fourth, leaving the Titans to claim the heat win. In the men’s first semi-final, Bali reasserted their authority with a dominant win, while the Barracudas got out of jail with a late wave that took them from fourth to second. In the second quicker around the turn and caught the first runner home to retain their title emphatically. Third place went to the Cougars who were delighted with their finest result in a major surfboat competition. In the men’s final, Blue Bali stormed to a two length lead right off the beach, as the other five crews trailed almost all abreast at the turn. The Barracudas again found a wave to carry them home for silver, while the Titan’s bowman, James Basher, out-sprinted his opposite number from Jan Juc to give the Perranporth boat an excellent third. “That was hard work,” said Nick Healey, Blue Bali’s winning stroke. “Really intense racing, and waves that could take anyone out.”

The European Championships come next, to be held at Perranporth on 1 September. For more information see www.uksrl.co.uk

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