Montford's season opener

Menai preparing to race the Montford Challenge

The first race of the season saw two Beaumaris crews head over the border to Shrewsbury for the infamous Montford Challenge.

The Montford is known to be a tough row, especially as it’s the first race after a long winter, but as we arrived at Pengwern Boat Club, named after the capital of the ancient Welsh Kingdom of Powys, it was a lovely spring day.

Thankfully, the river levels had fallen during the week, meaning the river flow against which we would be rowing, was a little less daunting than usual!

After catching up with old friends from Porthmadog, Ynys Môn, Aberdyfi, Aberystwyth and Holyhead and after devouring several breakfast baps, it was time to row.

Cybi rowing upstream

The race is an eight-mile timed row in two stages, the first upstream from, Shrewsbury to the the northenmost point of the River Severn, known locally as the North Pole followed by a leisurely six-mile row back downstream before a second timed section; a two-mile sprint to the finish line back at Pengwern.

The starting positions were drawn at random with Cybi, Beaumaris’ mixed crew of Nia, Gwyn, John and Vicky coxed by Jan, starting 12th and Menai’s men’s crew of Mike, Arwel, Justin and Simon and coxed by Cindy starting 22nd of the 24 entries.

Despite the river levels falling, the upstream leg was still a very tough leg with coxes having to find opportunities to overtake boats as well as dodging fallen and overhanging trees and avoiding the occasionally shallow banks.

Menai also had to face being menaced by an aggressive swan at one point, having got a little bit too close for the bird’s liking!

The final 200 metres before arriving at the North Pole saw the boats having to row in some of the hardest water on the row and was a real test of character, strength and determination.

After a brief rest at the northenmost point of the Severn there was a gentle six-mile row back, taking in the peace and tranquillity of the Shropshire borders before a flat out two-mile timed sprint.

The final two miles were lung busting and a little shock to the system after the leisurely six miles leading up to it but racing from the show ground through the town to the finish line was a great end to a great day.

The awards were presented by Sir Edward Tate, a prominent Shropshire farmer and landowner who lives at The Isle, a 1682 estate on the River Severn near Shrewsbury.

Menai finished second overall to a strong Aberdyfi men’s crew racing in Clychau, and also won the Vets category whilst Cybi finished a very creditable third in the mixed category.

Thanks to the Shrewsbury Adventure Rowing Club for hosting the season’s curtain raiser and for such a fantastic spread of food after the race.

Menai, winners of the Vets Category (L to R) Simon, Arwel, Justin, Cindy, Mike