The Numbers Add Up ? FISA World Masters Regatta

by Melissa Bray

It’s one of the only situations where people proudly admit their ages and can hardly wait to be a year older. The FISA World Masters Regatta just wrapped up in Vichy, France with more than 450 races, divided by age, covering the 1000 metre course.

Clubs from throughout Europe had driven ladened trailers for their members to compete and many more had flown to France from around the world. Germany made up the biggest contingent. Members of 133 clubs had made the trip and results reflected the rowing dominance of this nation.

The people ranged in age from the 27 years old, just joined the ranks of masters rowers, through to 84-year-old Charles Eugster of Switzerland. Racing started at 7.20am each morning with the bar and café at the course humming soon after.

Masters competitors come for a variety of different rowing backgrounds and talents. Ron Riley, a retired farmer from the southern tip of New Zealand, said Vichy was his second masters worlds. Along with rowing partner, oyster fisherman, Rex Ryan of Bluff, New Zealand, they have been training up to 100 kilometres a week for the past six months. Ryan admitted his preparation was not always ideal. ?I’d take my rowing machine on the fishing boat with me, but it’s really hard to stay on (the rowing machine) when the seas are rough,? said Ryan who fishes in some of the roughest waters in the world.

Fifty-six year old Ryan still plays rugby and has sacrificed his season to focus on rowing. Rowing partner, Riley is 65 years old and retired earlier this year from farming which means he is able to devote much more time to his sport. His farm is probably the best-equipped farm for rowing in the country. ?I’ve got four rowing machines and two singles in the shed back on the farm,? says Riley, who had just purchased the latest model of rowing machine from one of the many stalls. ?I probably don’t need it,? he admits.

About 3,000 competitors raced over the three day regatta with 12 hours of races on the first two days. Often participants raced in more than one event and with races starting every three minutes barely a moment went by when there was not a race to watch.

Medals were awarded to first place in every race directly after the finish at a rate of 20 medal ceremonies per hour. This required a total supply of 1,400 medals and for the male presenters that meant kissing 123 cheeks ? twice ? on the first day alone.

One Euro from each entry fee will assist junior rowers and help coaches in developing countries. ?The Masters Euro Fund? has been supplying financial support for the last three years and with the growth of the event, it will continue to generate healthy funds.

Next year the World Masters Regatta is in Hamburg Germany at the start of September. As long as you are over 27 years old and have been out of international competition for two years you are eligible.

For results go to the official Web site: Here