Construction of a new pontoon makes it possible to launch six boats at once

West Norfolk Rowing Club (WNRC) hosted the start of the annual Great Ouse Marathon, with more than 100 boats launching from the club site at Denver Sluice and about 300 rowers racing the 21.6km to Ely.

It was a fantastic spectacle, and WNRC was looking its best with all the recent teamwork on the site paying off, including the construction of a new pontoon which made it possible to launch up to six boats at once.

WNRC captain, Nix Marston, expressed her gratitude to all the club members who volunteered as marshals in and around the site for the event, saying: “Everything went off smoothly with all the trailer-parking, rigging, launching, and catering, and a number of the participants commented on the friendly and relaxed atmosphere at the club.”

WNRC also had a number of crews racing, with the mens’ coxless quad of Theo Bailey, Mark Dawson, Phil Holden and Matt Sawyer finishing in a time of 01hr 48mins 32secs.

Mike Bond completed the race in an impressive 01:53:43 in a single scull, with Matt Parle (RAF) a few seconds behind him at 01:53:58, and Beatriz Bond in 02:14:55.

The mixed double of Andy Thomas and Vicky Alexander finished in 02:18:48. The two Masters doubles of Terry Mansfield with Stuart Porter and Carol Rose with Hamish Collin, and were also happy to complete the testing race.