Nothing could have better highlighted just how much rowing is a sport for all ages than a new national record which was established at Scotstoun last weekend by a septuagenarian.
Nothing could have better highlighted just how much rowing is a sport for all ages than a new national record which was established at Scotstoun last weekend by a septuagenarian.
Having celebrated his latest big birthday in September, Roger Stainforth admits to having immediately set his sights on the target of breaking the British over-70s record. ??This is the opportunity ... before other people reach that age group as well,?? he laughed.
His time for 1000 metres of 3 minutes 23.5 seconds broke the previous mark by close to two seconds and he knew he was on course to do it pretty much throughout.
??I knew by 500 metres that I was doing well,?? he reported. ??By about 800 metres I felt that if I didn??t do anything silly or fell off I could do it. I??m really pleased.??
All the more so, you suspect, because, although he had crossed the border to take part, the Durham Amateur Rowing Club member and his family have a particular fondness for this part of the world.
??We??ve got a family interest because our son lives in Scotland and we love it here; I couldn??t be happier than I??ve actually done it in Scotland,?? he said.
Very much the fit family it seems, it was his daughter Rebecca who was first in a boat, ahead of her mum Hazel, while Roger, who now travels round the country taking part in indoor rowing events, was introduced to the sport only around a decade ago.
??They dragged me kicking and screaming,?? said the former rugby player and cyclist who, in fact, clearly took little persuading to have a go. ??We??re very competitive. We can??t go out together without competing and my wife had her moment of glory at Strathclyde Park about seven years ago when she won the Masters single sculling.??
Inspirational stuff, albeit Stainforth did wryly observe that the size of the field in his particular event, was, in its way, rather telling at the weekend.
??There were four in the race ... that??s not bad," he said. "When you get to 70 they [the competitors] dwindle in numbers . . . ??
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