Master rowers hit lake Orr

(By Ben Strick and Nick McTague - Bond University Journalism Students)

Members from the Gold Coast Master Rowers club took a break after competing in the Sydney Masters Games and spent the weekend getting back into the flow of things.

Gold Coast Master Rowers treasurer Ray Clitheroe said the small club won gold and silver at the Masters Games.  Club captain Bill Taylor and three other rowers from the club won the gold medal in the men’s coxless four group.

The club’s president Alf Duval and Mr Clitheroe have competed in some of Australia’s biggest races.  Mr Duval raced in the 1968 Olympics at Mexico City and won a silver medal in the Men’s Coxed Eights rowing event.  Mr Clitheroe competed in the 2004 Australian Masters Championships.

The Gold Coast Master Rowers club had been open since January when it separated from another club. “And already we have started to see a pick-up in the numbers,” Mr Clitheroe said.

“The most amazing thing is the vast range of people we have here, our members come from all over the Gold Coast to join us every weekend morning for a row.  “We compete in events as much as possible, but we’re not about competitions at all.”  Mr Clitheroe said that’s just part of the fun, and that they were more about just getting together on weekend mornings and enjoying themselves.

One of the new members, Yvette Fillery, completed her first row with the group last weekend.  She said it was great just to get outside and row with like-minded people.

Mr Clitheroe said the Gold Coast Master Rowers teams had all ages and all skill levels.  “We’ve got two 80-year-old rowers here that just love it and then we have a lot of younger people as well so we certainly cover all of the age groups,” Mr Clitheroe said.

For more information phone Ray Clitheroe on: 0415 452 688 or, email gcmrowers@gmail.com