Gold for WME 4+ at Henley Masters

Royal Chester’s Women’s Masters E coxed Four crew of Nicki Miller, Helen Tweed, Jane Sweeney, Irene Adam and cox Jo Hinnigan brought home a gold medal from Henley Masters Regatta.

A strong wind blowing straight down the course made for tricky racing conditions; thankfully Chester’s own Dee chop on the sailing club straight had provided ample preparation during many hours of training on our own river. The Thames was not going to trouble the Chester ladies.

Royals’ first race was a semi-final against Putney Town, a crew that had narrowly beaten them six weeks previously. If they beat Putney, they would be through to the final.....tension was building and the day was very much "on".

A good start saw Royals build a length’s lead off the start, but Putney held and were threatening to catch the Chester boat. Two well executed pushes at specific points in the race saw Royals hold out for a very good length and three quarter win. The final loomed against Toowong Rowing Club from Australia. You don’t come all the way from Australia to make up the numbers…..

Another good start saw the Chester girls get away smartly and build an early lead. The Toowong ladies weren’t going to let them get away up the course and hung on, holding tight to Royals as they set the pace down the course. Royals held on to a half-length lead for the middle third of the race until they unleashed a pre-planned sequence of pushes which opened up a convincing lead for a 4 lengths victory and a Henley Masters Gold Medal for Royal Chester Rowing Club.

The four masters women took up rowing only a few years ago as parents of Royals Juniors and developed through the squad of over twenty masters women who took up rowing later in life. Hard training and dedicated coaching has brought them to national recognition.

The Gold Crew: Cox Jo Hinnigan, Nicki Miller, Helen Tweed, Jane Sweeney, Irene Adam.