Rowers compete at the Commonwealth Regatta

To make up for rowing not being part of the Commonwealth Games, the Commonwealth Rowing Championships were established. Last weekend, Strathclyde, Scotland, hosted the regatta following a tradition that began in 1994.

South Africa competed for the first time at these championships with the team that will continue on to Eton and the World Rowing Championships. Canada, Australia and New Zealand used it as part of their build-up to the World University Games, while Great Britain, racing as England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland sent their “B” squad.

Taking advantage of the eight lanes available all races were straight finals with the men’s lightweight single having the biggest representation.

At the end of the two days of racing, England topped the medal table with 20 medals, 10 of them gold. But the biggest hit was South Africa. Their seven-man team, by doubling up in events, took away four gold medals and one bronze which put them into second overall.

Leading the way, South Africa’s lightweight men’s four of Bruce Turvey, Lawrence Ndlovu, Roderick MacDonald and Tony Paladin won both the men’s four and lightweight men’s four over Canada. South Africa’s flagship crew of Ramon Di Clemente and Donovan Cech convincingly won the men’s pair over England. Di Clemente and Cech have consistently been in the medals in this event internationally since 2001.

New Zealand’s Nathan Cohen won the men’s single in a very close race with England’s Ian Lawson. Cohen took silver a couple of weeks ago at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships and Olympian Lawson is a regular member of the Great Britain squad.

This event is held every four years and this year’s host, Strathclyde, was supported by the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games bid committee. Local organiser Iain Somerside says the hope is that Glasgow will include rowing in the Commonwealth Games. Rowing has been included in the Commonwealth Games only once before.

For a full list of results please go to: www.scottish-rowing.org.uk/News.html

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