Masters Of The English Riviera

On the 18th August, seasoned rowers over the age of 60 converged on Paignton for the 2024 Masters Championships. This event, which only made its debut on the CPGA calendar in 2023, is still relatively new but has quickly become a highlight for the rowing community.

Defending champions Lyme Regis (Women’s) and Swanage (Open) arrived determined to hold onto their titles, setting the stage for intense competition. However, the absence of Helford—this year’s World Pilot Gig Championships winner in both the Men’s and Women’s categories—added an unexpected twist.

The day began with Paignton offering up perfect weather: flat, calm water and barely a breeze. The Green quickly filled with trailers and crews, creating a vibrant and bustling atmosphere. The 2000 metre straight line course across Torbay was designed to challenge the rowers’ endurance and strategy, with each crew racing twice: first in heats and then in their respective finals.

Between races, rowers and spectators explored market stalls and local Paignton offerings, keeping everyone entertained and well-fed. The day was a long one, despite the long row to the start line, nearly 30 minutes for some crews, the racing itself was fast-paced, with final heats completed in just 11-15 minutes. The event highlighted how lending boats at a pool boat event can significantly speed up proceedings.

Victories were celebrated with enthusiasm, even in the minor finals. A particularly memorable moment was Flushing and Mylor’s triumph in the Open Plate Final, where the delight of the rowers and their coxswain was moving.

Reflecting on the victory, Cox Bridget King shared; “FMPGC Maters were very keen to take part in their own category championship and had been training hard as a crew. Securing first place in our final was incredibly exciting and a proud moment for us. We were in second place for most of the race, but in the final quarter, I saw the potential to win, and the crew gave it their all.”

In the Open Cup Final, Caradon took an impressive early lead, leaving commentator Steve Lock to marvel, “How do they do it?” Falmouth finished 17 seconds behind in 2nd, followed by Swanage in 3rd.

The Women’s Cup Final delivered a nail-biting finish as Falmouth and Lyme Regis battled it out neck and neck. Falmouth led for most of the race, but Lyme Regis timed their push to perfection, with Dart pressing hard and Cotehele Quay close behind. After a photo finish both Falmouth and Lyme Regis anxiously awaited the final results, which ultimately crowned Lyme Regis as the winner, allowing them to retain their title from 2023. Lyme Regis cox Rachel Hamblett expressed her joy: “Ecstatic. We’ve trained hard, and my team rowed hard all the way.”

As the sun set and the event drew to a close, the atmosphere on the Green was electric. Drinks flowed, live music played, and the entire gathering basked in the glow of a perfect day of competition.