Rowing for his life at the South American masters champs

The South American Masters Championships were raced recently and can be summed up in one man. Oscar Cid de la Paz. The 77-year-old epitomizes South American masters rowing in many ways.

Born in 1930, Oscar started racing in 1945 and he has been going to the masters champs since they began 20 years ago in Oscar’s home country, Argentina. This year, racing in Valparaiso, Chile Oscar is far from slowing down. Winning in the “H” age group in the double, pair, eight and single as well as the younger “G” coxed four and the “I” single, Oscar made a big contribution to Argentina coming second overall on the points table.

Overall Brazil came out on top of the points table leading with 38 points to Argentina’s 25 in second. Chile was third with 23.

Racing was on La Luz Lake, Curauma, 10km from Valparaiso, and organiser Francisco Blanco described the conditions as spectacular. Over 300 rowers competed from five countries with the biggest team coming from host nation Chile. The five Valparaiso rowing clubs were well represented picking up nine of the 23 points for Chile.

The biggest events at the regatta were the men’s “C” single and men’s “C” double with 17 entries in each of these events. Over 2,000 spectators watched the races.

The World Rowing team values feedback.