Day 5 Wednesday 14th
Sydney weather proved to be the toughest competitor in the final two days of racing at the 2009 World Masters Games Rowing. As winds reached 75km/h boats were capsized, crews were thrown overboard and racing necessarily abandoned as conditions became too dangerous to continue.
The Day Four racing schedule had been cancelled mid-morning. Despite near-perfect conditions for the early morning racing session, the wind gusts made racing unsafe and unfair.
Day Five began with the scheduled mixed events program, in which men and women row together on what is the most social - though still competitive - day of the regatta.
By 10am of Day Five, the final day of competition, similarly dangerous wind gusts complicated the course. Racing was suspended in the hope that conditions would improve and permit further safe racing, but following an officials' meeting the racing schedule was cancelled due to dangerous wind gusts.
One race that was completed in the morning session was the Mixed H-J Eight, with Sydney University battling the trying conditions to win the gold medal with a crew aged 70 years and over.
Despite the shortened program, Australian and international crews leave the Sydney International Regatta Centre today with fond memories and medals from the Masters Games.
A rower who particularly enjoyed the event was the regatta's oldest female competitor, Nelly Brandsma. At 84 years of age, Nelly came to the 2009 Sydney World Masters Games having only just returned from the World Masters Regatta in Vienna, Austria. Nelly completed a busy event schedule at Sydney, representing the Western Australian Swan River Rowing Club.
At 91, Ralph Howard, the oldest rowing competitor at the World Masters Games, cannot walk through the boat yard without receiving a celebratory clap on the back.
Ralph, who rows for the Banks Rowing Club in Melbourne, has been rowing for more than 70 years and is passionate sport.
"Rowing is fantastic," he says. "Anyone can row. You don't get too many injuries - maybe a bit of battering and bruising from around the boat - but the friendships you make and the competition you can compete in are great."
Competing in the J category of racing, Ralph and his Ancient Mariners crew were hoping to perform strongly in the Men's J Eight. The crew featured two former Olympians and current Masters Champions. Though the average age of the crew was over 80, the competitive spirit of the boat was undeniable.
"I don't like to lose," Ralph said simply.
Due to the weather conditions Ralph and his Eight were unfortunately unable to take the water on Day Four, as rough water and wind conditions made the 1000m Penrith course too dangerous.
Despite the shortened schedule, the 2009 Sydney World Masters Games Rowing has been a huge success. Current and former Olympians, ex-World Champions, international teams and everyday masters rowers have competed in the largest regatta ever held in the Southern Hemisphere. With a total of 2443 rowers (mixing together to race in 4638 crews) racing every four minutes over an Olympic-grade 1000m course, the 2009 World Masters Games Rowing has been an enormous, if at times dramatic, sporting success.
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