Adaptive regatta shows British strength

One of the only regattas solely for adaptive rowers, the Gavirate International Adaptive Regatta in Italy opened the adaptive season to a strong British showing. Great Britain took four golds and the overall team trophy.

Raced over 1000m the two day regatta consisted of heats and finals. Paralympic champion Tom Aggar of Great Britain easily won the final of the AS men’s single, (ASM1x) setting an unofficial World Best Time. Great Britain also took second in this event with new adaptive team member Andy Houghton not far behind Aggar.

The trunk and arms mixed double (TAMx2x) saw a very tight battle to the line between Poland and Great Britain. Poland’s Paralympians, Jolanta Pawlak and Piotr Maijka prevailed. On the second day Italy came off best beating Poland to the gold.

Italy almost came through in the leg, trunk, arms mixed coxed four (LTAMx4+) but Great Britain was able to take line honours. Filomena Franco of Portugal led a small field in the AS women’s single, (ASW1x).
 
This year has seen some changes in adaptive rowing. There is a slight renaming of classes to ensure more specificity with the addition of ID, intellectual disability, VI, visual impairment, and PD, physical disability.  Also Arms Only has changed to AS, arms and shoulders.

In its third year, seven nations competed at Gavirate with India appearing internationally for the first time in adaptive rowing.

For a full list of results go to: http://www.canottaggio.org