ELITE rowing was on the menu last weekend, as competitors came from all over to compete in the Jersey Beach Sprint Championships and Offshore Rowing Regatta.
“Last weekend was a big success, everything went brilliantly, even the weather was perfect,” said Sarah Earles, vice chair of the Jersey Rowing Club.
“We have received really positive feedback from all involved, and we believe that this event showed Jersey off pretty nicely.”
Action got off to a blistering start, as Friday’s Beach Sprint Championships commenced the rowing extravaganza. Given this is a relatively new format to the sport, volunteers and
officials were said to experience a bit of a learning curve, with the high pace making it more difficult to officiate proceedings.
Racing was intensely close, with Earles saying: “Friday’s Beach Sprints were very fast-paced, was non-stop racing and everyone had fun.
“Finishes went down to the wire, which we recorded. Races were so close, officials had to view the recordings several times to determine the winner.”
Jersey’s local star Chris Thompson competed in the CO1x (Senior) class, eager to make a lasting impression on the visiting GB squad.
The Caesarean has had a fantastic season so far in the Four Nations Series, and with his sights set on Team GB qualification, he amped himself up for a breakthrough performance.
After placing fourth on the time trial, the stage was set for him to impress. Thompson showed incredible skill to best Tynemouth Coastal Rowing Club’s Hal Flowerdew in the quarter-finals, before falling short to Team GB’s Cameron Buchan.
Even though he lost that contest, there was no time to put his head down, as he faced Stirling Rowing Club’s Gregor Hall in the third-place decider.
Competition was tight, but the Jerseyman defended home turf, prevailing by a narrow 0.3 seconds to rank third.
“Chris (Thompson) did very well, definitely made an impression with the GB coach as he was only bested by the two Team GB rowers (Buchan and James Cox).”
“GB are still very much in the throws of selecting athletes for the upcoming GB trials, Thompson definitely has a case with the season he’s had. But, this is a process, so whatever happens he needs to keep going.”
Thompson hopes to join fellow Caesarean Natacha Searson, who has already received the invite to participate in mid-July’s GB trials. Unfortunately, Searson was unable to attend the local event, as she was competing in the massive-scale Women’s Henley Regatta.
Jersey Rowing Club’s Tilly Woodhall competed in the CW1x (Senior) class, but just fell short to Team GB’s Laura McKenzie in the quarter-final, who then went on to win the event.
Lymington Amateur Rowing Club had a very successful 1-2 in the U19 categories, as Sol Chamberlain-Hyde dominated in the CO1x (U19) category, while Zara Gray reigned supreme in the CW1x (U19) group.
Laura McKenzie and James Cox weren’t finished, as they claimed victory in the CMix2x (Senior) division to cap off an action-packed day.
Team GB’s rowers stayed on-island all week, training and competing, which was a great experience for Jersey Rowing Club.
“Observing their schedules and training sessions was very interesting, definitely some things we can take and pass down to local rowers, so it has been a great learning experience.
British Rowing’s Director of Performance, Louis Kingsley, thanked Jersey Rowing Club for its ongoing support in the Olympic Beach Sprint programme, as “providing race opportunities and training is invaluable in their build-up to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games”.
Saturday and Sunday then ushered in Offshore Rowing Regatta, setting the stage for two days of intense endurance racing.
The course proved incredibly challenging, with the turn-heavy route keeping athletes on their toes.
Jersey Rowing Club were excellent across the two days, proving they’re more than capable to hang with the best. Jersey’s Laima Pacekajute started on the right foot, rowing excellently to place first overall in the CW1x U19, Senior and Masters race, with fellow local Marie Julie-Cnudde close behind to make it a Caesarean top two in the Senior class.
Earles and Katie Guest proved a dangerous duo in Saturday’s CW2x contest, placing second behind Coastal Barbarians’ Kath Coleman-Jones and Liz Beswick.
In an all-Jersey affair in the CMix2x Masters group, Rosemary Satchwell and Paul Le Gros ranked first, before Islanders Frankie Le Quelenec and Chrissie Du Heaume won the CW2x Masters.
Sunday saw the quadruple sculls take to the water, with more impressive results for local athletes, including triumphs in the CO4x+ Senior and Masters race, CMix4x+ Masters and Senior clash.
