Regatta Online - News and Features
News and Features
Issue 105 - February 1998
Riviera Vaal regatta, February 7-8 1998, South Africa
Turning up the heat
South African spectators were treated last week to the sight of the GB
men's heavyweight squad barrelling down the course at the Riviera
Vaal, despite a 30-degree heatwave. The squad had been based in
Johannesburg for a month, at the Roodeplat dam, and visited the
Vaal regatta as an end to their training. This traditional event has
several familiar names for its races, and the Brits were victorious
in the Silver Goblets coxless pairs, the Steward's Challenge Cup
coxless fours, and beat a South African composite by seven seconds
in the Grand Challenge cup for eights. A runner-up in the Diamond
Challenge Sculls completed the set, and then the autograph books
came out. Disappointed by the absence of Steve Redgrave, who had
gone home early to his pregnant wife's side, the South Africans were
nevertheless delighted to see internationals racing on their course,
especially as the cost of travelling will prevent many of the
spectators from ever seeing a senior World Championships.
Results and draw.
© Copyright R. Quarrell, 1997.
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