Medals for City at Welsh Indoor Rowing Champs

Congratulations to Barney and Adam who both returned from the Welsh Indoor Rowing Champs with medals.

Barney/(Adam)'s Race report

It was somewhere around Bristol when the adrenaline began to take hold. An hour or so into the drive, my mind was now awake, so no longer could I put off the inevitable thoughts of the race to come; thoughts of the incredible pain I and 400 others were about to subject ourselves to. Snapping out of it I eased my foot off the gas; another micro phantasm over, eyes on the road.

Fig. 1: Adam's Hotel

My partner in crime for this journey, Adam Scrivner, had already made his journey up the night before (yeah, I went by train), and I imagined he would be relaxing in a (crap) hotel somewhere in sunny Cardiff [Fig. 1], laughing to himself about my tiring drive no doubt (actually I was eating bananas while watching The World At War on Freeview). I knew he too would not escape from the maddening thoughts of what was to come later this day. It's hard to describe the tension before an indoor rowing event; and just as hard to understand why it should be so intense, even after many races!(unlike racing in a boat, you can be less concerned about technique, but you know that you are going to be pushing yourself to your physical limit, and so you have to prepare yourself for the inevitable lactate pain. No matter how many erg races you do, that tension is always there), but this doesn't deter the crowds pouring in to compete and maybe it adds to the feeling of relief and satisfaction at the end of a race.

Turning the corner into the Cardiff Channel View Centre at 9:15am, I see the first of the competitors going through the entrance, Scouse looking hair and horrendous shell tracksuits [Fig. 2]. 'Wales' I thought to myself, as I pulled up in the car park.

Fig. 2: A Welsh person, according to Barney

The main hall of the event was large and impressive with a massive screen dominating the room, set behind rows of ergs. Each machine connected by a network of wires criss-crossing the venue, Concept2 branding on every surface. Competitors for the first race were gathering, tense faces on the 'Fresher Men' lined up for Heat 1, their erg aspirations soon to become a reality. ‘Good luck lads’ I think to myself.

No sign of Adam yet (I think that I was watching Escape To The Country while trying to sort out a taxi at this point), just a few regular faces. I get ready, weigh in at 74.2kgs, so safely within the weight limit of 75kg, and think mournfully back to the 5* breakfast I had to forego a few hours earlier, grrr! Still, only an hour to go and then I can eat ‘til New Years! I go to get ready, pulse steadily increasing…

Feeling good, and well warmed up, I make my way to the main floor. The place is filling up, some giants with big guns stride past, this looks like Adam’s crowd. I find my erg with the rest of the Open Lightweight competitors, we’re also racing with the 18year-old Heavyweights so it will be an interesting heat.

iPod ready, mind horrified, the room goes quiet and the screen says… Attention: ROW! By 500m the pain sets in, 3rd place; 1000m my split weakens just before my first push rights it; up to 2nd; last 750m remaining, really hurting now, back to 3rd, split definitely suffering; 500m to go, one more big push… rate goes up but split not moving; just 300m left, rate right up to 40, split still no change but on for a good time… I cross the line in 6mins 33.2sec, 3rd in heat and 1st in Open Lightweights, with a new PB!! YES! I feel dizzy now...

A few minutes after my race I bump into Adam as he's getting ready. He seems quite nervous (understatement), apparently taxi [Fig. 3] problems getting here (it’s true; nothing works properly outside of England, or inside it, for that matter). A last minute panic probably didn't help things, plus he was up against the British champion Graham Benton (who turned out to be a pretty nice bloke). This was going to be a good race!

Fig. 3: A Welsh taxi driver (this isn’t true)

We watch some racing for a bit (including a 70-something year old man who manages a 7:11.7!), and Adam goes to warm up on one of the many ergs upstairs. 20 minutes later, Adam’s lined up on the grid, still looking nervous. The big screen lists all their names, their digital boats all waiting on the start line. The commentator draws everybody’s attention to Graham Benton, makes a couple of appalling jokes, then mercifully begins the start procedure. And they're off!!!

Fig. 4: Barney in his element

250m in and Adam, having made a bit of a poor start (probably straight to last place as usual), begins slowly moving up the field: 13th, 12th, 10th, 9th… the ergs are making a lot of noise and you can see the machines flexing as the heavyweights put it down. 1000m in and Adam’s up to 3rd, as the gaps start to lengthen between the top 4. 500m left and Adam starts to up the pace, still comfortably in 3rd. 300m to go and Adam makes a big final push, up to 38spm, but it’s not enough to catch the guy in 2nd place. The crowd is making lots of noise as the commentator is counting down Graham Benton’s last strokes which look like being a Welsh National Record, and he does it, in 5:55! Adam makes Bronze with 6:09.8, and looks knackered. Well done, a tough race!

Adam collects his medal (then went outside to throw up, followed by a sprint to the station to catch my train), another successful day for City of Cambridge!

Next the journey back to Cambridge for some well earned beer… Many miles, hours and pints later, I finish my last mug of aptly named Dragon Slayer in the Dev, job done =)