IN the wake of a blockbuster 2023 for Jersey Rowing, the Island is set to host the British Rowing Offshore Championships in June.
Jersey Rowing Club’s standout campaign was rewarded with Sporting Performance of the Year at the recent Jersey Sports Awards – an accolade usually reserved for individuals.
Highlights included Natacha Searson claiming the women’s singles at the Home International Beach Sprint Regatta, while Hylton Harvey and Sarah Earles teamed up for gold in the mixed doubles.
Searson’s efforts were rewarded with a selection to Great Britain’s mixed quad squad at both the European and World Championships, as was Harvey’s younger brother Hector, who competed in the under-19 men’s singles.
Now, the fresh year brings added excitement to local rowers, with the opportunity to host the prestigious British Rowing Offshore Championships in just shy of five months’ time.
Offshore rowing, also known as endurance coastal sculling, are races that usually take place over 4km courses in heats and 6km in finals.
Traditionally these races involve starting on the beach and finishing in the sea.
Island rower Gary Briggs has been instrumental in bringing this latest tournament to Jersey’s shores.
He said: “This is something I have been working on for a couple of years now.
“We have incredible local rowing talent here on the Island and we have consistently picked up medals at this event.”
After stepping down as vice-captain of the Jersey Rowing Club in 2023, Briggs was invited to join the BROC organising committee last year, which played a huge role in helping bring the event to our Island.
“I was delighted to be invited to be on the committee and to be able to help bring the competition to Jersey,” he added. “It’s a huge privilege to get to host this event.
“The tournament has a great history and we as a club are very proud to have contributed our part over the years.”
The latest edition held in 2023 in Exmouth, Devon, saw significant Island success.
There were Jersey victories in the coastal women’s quad sculls, coastal mixed coxed quad sculls and the women’s coastal solo events.
The established coastal rowing community in the United Kingdom continues to grow at a staggering rate – welcoming new members, with dedicated coastal clubs and traditional river rowers alike to come together and compete yearly.
The British Rowing Championships provides a valuable opportunity for young rowers to try their hand at the ‘wilder cousin’ of river rowing, especially for those with aspirations of competing internationally in the future.
