Masters succeed in Turin Silver Skiff Regatta

Date published: 20 November 2023

Four members of Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club made the journey to Turin in the foothills of the Alps earlier this month to take part in the prestigious Silver Skiff Regatta on the River Po, racing through the heart of the city. 

The race is the largest single sculling (one person with an oar in each hand) event in the world, attracting 713 international entrants. 

This is an endurance race with scullers setting off at 15 second intervals over the 11,000 metre course.  This is fully buoyed down the centre of the river, as scullers are required to change direction half-way, finishing the course at the start line. 

Depending on one’s ability the course can take from 40 minutes to over an hour and a half, but with the volume of competitors a second can make a difference of several places. 

This year’s overall winner was Martin Sinkovic – one of a pair of multiple Olympic gold winning Croatian brothers. His margin of victory after 40 minutes and 20.2 seconds was 3.465 seconds – about one boat length.

Hollingworth Lake had competitors in Masters Categories E (55-60), F (60-65) and G (65-70). 

The course was extremely demanding as the fastest water was close to the bank on the upstream leg and in the centre of the river on the downstream leg, which one had to navigate whilst avoiding slower and faster scullers all trying to do the same thing.  There were also three very unforgiving bridges along the route which resulted in several swimmers. 

The Hollingworth Lake contingent survived and put in some very respectable performances.  Keith Lawton (Masters F) was 22nd out of 60 in his category and 268th overall Masters Men.  Craig Diver (Masters E was 44th out of 56 in his category and 402nd overall Masters Men. 

Nigel Price (Masters G) was 11th out of 36 in his category and 298th overall Masters Men; whilst Penny Price (Masters F) – the Club’s sole female representative achieved 15th in her category and 118th overall Masters Women. 

Keith Lawton, ex-club president, said: "There is something about testing yourself against the best in the world, but at the same time it is just about performing as well as you can on the day."