Ben, Patrick, Tomos, Harry and Will win double at Penarth Regatta

After the long summer holidays, Ben J, Patrick S, Tomos W, Harry C and Will L joined a squad of town club masters rowers at the 60-boat Penarth Regatta on the Bristol Channel – the oldest amateur rowing event in Wales, winning both the mens open four man sculls, and the mens open four man sweep – after just two days of pre-season training!

The boys’ first rowing event since Henley Royal Regatta in June could not have been more different! Despite unfamiliar boats and the novelty of a bouncy row on the sea, the team blew us out of the water with their fantastic achievement.

Our boys saw off Ross and Carmarthen/Swansea opposition in their quad heat before racing home over 2L clear of Llandaff opponents in the final. Then in the fours, they beat Penarth and Carmarthen to set up a final with Llandaff, and raced clear in the second half to take the pots by 1 1/2L.

Races took place over a 600m course along the Glamorgan Heritage Coast shorefront to Penarth Yacht Club, with the 128-year-old pier just beyond. Conditions were mixed, with the first hour of racing dominated by a thick sea mist, rendering the finish invisible, which finally lifted to brilliant sunshine and one of the hottest days of the year.