Australian Indoor Champs

[lindsayh]

The AIRC was "reinvented" on Saturday in Brisbane. There hadn't been one for about 5 years when C2 stopped supporting it so a Brisbane rowing gym bit the bullet and organised it. Not bad for a first attempt - it's very hard here to get big numbers here with such long distances.
60-70 people from young ones to 90+. some age groups very patchy. it will take a few years to attract the support - it is so hard to market.
Fastest 2k was 6:15, 1k = 3:00 and 500 = 1:20. My buddy Terry Dargan did a 7:16 2k which a new AR (70+lwt) and pretty damn smart.

A new face appeared in the 60+ group though! A (local) former Olympian and National level Masters OTW guy named Ian Luxford came to race - he hadn't done a 2k erg for 15 years! Very strong and did a 6:41 which of course is seriously faster than my 6:46 PB (which was the old AR). Happy to be beaten fair and square.
Settled for a 6:49 which was pretty OK in the circumstances.
Then there was a 500 @1:27.5 and 1km @1:37.2 and a 4x 500 mixed relay.
Happy with the times - fastest of the over 50s.

[Edward4492]

Great job Lindsay (and Terry)! Even over here in the US the Masters attendance (other then "B's" ) is very lean, usually less than ten people show up.We have heavy support from the high school crew kids ( several 100 at each event). The satellite regattas draw more and the crossfit crowd is starting to come out. It will always be a niche sport.

Well done, very solid times to be sure.

[lindsayh]

note to Bob S
Vince Home who is our 90+ hwt did all three events and pretty well too

500 = 1:58.7
1000 = 4:20.0
2000 = 9:16.3 (new AR)

Vince is amazing to watch - he is blind and quite frail when walking and is led to the erg by a grandson who coxes him through it but as soon as he sits and starts he is powerful and smooth with a great long stroke.

[G-dub]

Good stuff Lindsey.

[Bob S.]

note to Bob S
Vince Home who is our 90+ hwt did all three events and pretty well too

500 = 1:58.7
1000 = 4:20.0
2000 = 9:16.3 (new AR)

Vince is amazing to watch - he is blind and quite frail when walking and is led to the erg by a grandson who coxes him through it but as soon as he sits and starts he is powerful and smooth with a great long stroke.

Thanks, Lindsay. He was pretty damn close on the two short pieces. I believe that he is a year older than me, so we are just about head to head - he may well have the edge. The 2k is a different matter. I do better as the distance get longer, so I have the advantage there. I can relate to having to be coxed through a piece. I still have fair vision, but the monitor at one race was just a gray blur on account of the lighting. I don't feel frail, but I am afraid that my walking is better described as tottering.

[Banjo]

Thanks for the report Lindsay and congrats on your solid performance, as for Vince, wow Very inspirational as is Bob S.

Any future comps coming up for you ?

[lindsayh]

Thanks for the report Lindsay and congrats on your solid performance, as for Vince, wow Very inspirational as is Bob S.
Any future comps coming up for you ?

The next face to face racing is either the Queensland distance racing day in Brisbane in March at urban rowing (5k 10k or 60 minutes I think) and the Queensland Indoors on the Sunshine Coast in May - 2 days of racing about 6 events - up to 2km.
Everyone should be there!

[Wombat63]

Lindsay
The distance races sound very enticing....
Looking forward to a few hitouts with you and the guys.
Terry

[Hillclimber]

Congrats, Lindsay!
(apologies for being so late, just noticed the thread)