Local rower wins silver at US regatta

Silver medallists Michael Swain (front) and Tom Riddle.



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Bermuda rower Michael Swain and his US partner Tom Riddle have won the silver medal in the long distance event in an international regatta in Virginia.

The two Bermuda Rowing Association members competed over the 5,000 metre course on the Occoquan Reservoir just south of Washington DC.

They took second place in an entry of seven, clocking 20 minutes, 54.41 seconds.

Swain had already competed earlier in the day in the singles, finishing sixth in 15 in a time of 21:58.72.

But he was back on the water two hours later with Riddle.

Swain said: I had nothing left in the tank when I crossed the finish line so rehydration and taking on liquid fuel were critical to preparing for another race in the doubles.

What was really gratifying was that most of the other crews had been training together all season to ensure that their technique was spot on and blade timing very precise.

The actual race was our first time rowing together so we managed to nail all of the essentials on the 4,000 metre row to the start line.

The actual race felt very fluid and the boat glided beautifully. There were some very tight turns around the bends of the river and of course rowers face backwards, so steering is particularly difficult.

Tom made some great calls around the marker buoys and our tight line and power bursts certainly helped our finish time.

Swain is a founder member of the BWA but Riddle after visiting Bermuda as a rowing tourist four years previously. He recently retired as a Colonel at the Pentagon.

There were some 4,500 rowers took part in the regatta.