Fifteen Endeavour rowers travelled to the Olympic course to contest the 2024 NSW Masters Championships. There had been concern about a blue-green algae contamination, but the red alert had been reduced to amber during the week and the regatta got the green light. Saturday’s racing conditions were ideal, being cool and overcast with no wind, giving perfectly smooth water. Sunday started with a thick fog that obscured the course. The judges couldn’t see the finish line so the start of racing was delayed for 30 minutes, then by another 30 minutes then another hour. 5 minutes after the referee cancelled all races in session 4, the sun came out, the fog burned off and we sat in the sun for an hour and a half with nothing to do but rue the loss of 4 events in which we had good chances for a medal. At the National Masters Championships, our girls had won silver in WMF Qx, been 4th in WMG Qx and won silver in WMH Qx, being the top NSW crew in each. A gold in WMG Qx at the NSW Championships looked likely but we were robbed of that opportunity.

 

From 18 starts, Endeavour had 1 win, 3 seconds and a third, winning a gold and 2 silver medals. Our medals went to the girls who had medalled at the Australian Masters Championships, Lindy Nisbett winning a gold and a silver and Di McShane and Chris Brennan both winning silver.

 

Lindy raced the WMH 2x with the North Shore partner who had been injured in Tasmania, for a convincing win and a gold medal. Lindy and Chris rowed a strong second in WMG 2x for silver. Di McShane earned a silver medal as stroke of a (very) composite WMF 8+. Lindy also gained a second place in WMH 8+ but missed a medal as there were only 2 starters.

 

A notable performance was given by the our women in WME+. Although they were placed 6th as the only F category crew in the E event, their time would have earned them a bronze medal in the WMF 8+. Also note worthy was the performance of Leon Cossins in his first regatta after only 2 months of rowing. With Chris Bonomini, Leon earned progression from the heat to the final in MMD 2x.

 

Gold – Womens Masters H Double Sculls: Lindy Nisbett + composite.

Silver – Womens Masters G Double Sculls: Chris Brennan, Lindie Nisbett.

Silver – Womens Masters F Eight: Di McShane + composite.