83. Rowing - Women's Coxless Pair

Event: Rowing - Women's Coxless Pair 
Date: 9th September 2015
Location: Sudbury Rowing Club
Cost: No charge.
Rules: Women's rowing events were first included in the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Races are held on rivers, canals or lakes over a distance on 2,000 metres. Races start under the supervision of an aligner and a starter, with umpires positioned along the course and at the finish line. The Coxless Pair category sees two rowers in the boat with one oar each.

The Event:

Results: 

London 2012 Olympic Gold Medal: Helen Glover and Heather Stanning, Great Britain.

Comments:  

Sarah: Our coach Tricia seemed quite nervous about this one; I think she was fairly sure she was going to go for a swim before the session was over. The boat definitely felt more flighty, but I much preferred just having one oar to focus on and can definitely see the attraction of this event. After some impressive manoeuvring by Tricia, I was relieved when we got back to the launch nice and dry. Huge thanks to Tricia for having the confidence in us to risk a river swim!

Ellie: This boat is far too unstable - there is no way that rowers are able to keep this upright and go at any speed... but of course, they do because they are much more able and skilled than I am! It felt a little bit like the Bumblebee paradox - technically and obeying the laws of physics they shouldn't be able to fly but they do. This boat didn't feel like it should stay upright but it did, thankfully.
I much prefer having 2 oars to keep me balanced though so I was pleased when we'd finished this trip and were back on dry land but look how fast our photographs make us look like we're traveling!