Four rowers from the Mackay Rowing Club have returned from the Queensland State Masters Championship Regatta with medals aplenty and a reinvigorated passion for their sport.
Jane Deguara, Therese Clancy, Richard McGrath and Mick Wohlfhart competed in the Championship held from April 29 to 30 at Wyaralong Dam near Beaudesert.
“We did do really well for a small club,” said Ms Deguara.
Both Ms Deguara and Ms Clancy were unstoppable, winning gold in their singles sculls before teaming up to win doubles gold as well as another gold as part of a composite quad crew with two other competitors from Brisbane, one of which formerly rowed with Mackay Rowing Club for 10 years.
The women then teamed up with Mr McGrath and Mr Wohlfhart for mixed quad bronze, while both pairs of mixed doubles, Ms Deguara with Mr Wohlfhart and Ms Clancy with Mr McGrath, won silver.
“Everyone won medals, but three gold was huge for us to get,” said Ms Deguara.
Ms Deguara started rowing around 13 years ago after her son took up the sport through school.
“He loved it, so we used to be out there all the time,” she said.
“When he was in year 12, I thought, ‘Oh well, I might have a go at it,’ and that’s usually how Masters get into rowing.”
Based on the river at the Balnagowan Bridge, the Mackay Rowing Club is welcoming new members, often holding learn to row sessions for people to have a go.
“We’ve got doctors in our club who say rowing, for older people, particularly, is such a good sport because it’s not heavy on any of the joints; it’s very good for you and very aerobically hard,” said Ms Deguara.
“It’s hard at first, but most people can do it.”
The four rowers now have their sights set on the Australian Masters Rowing Championships in Sydney in June.
“It’s taken a lot of hard training to get to this stage, it’s not an easy sport to compete in, but it’s a lot of fun as well,” said Ms Deguara.
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L-R Richard McGrath, Therese Clancy, Jane Deguara and Mick Wohlfhart of Mackay Rowing Club
Therese Clancy and Jane Deguara teamed up with Pine Rivers for the first time to win gold in the composite quad crew. Photos supplied
