The 2024/2025 indoor rowing season was one to remember—and one I won’t soon forget. It was a journey filled with grit, pain, and the sweet satisfaction of hard-earned results.
British Rowing Indoor Championships: A Photo Finish for Gold
The season’s highlight came in December at the British Rowing Indoor Championships in Birmingham, where I lined up in the 55–59 heavyweight men’s category. I went in knowing it would be a tough field, and it didn’t disappoint.
The 2k race was brutal from the start, with the pack tightly bunched all the way. At 200 metres to go, I found myself in 4th place, trailing the leaders and unsure if I could make the move in time. But somehow, with the adrenaline kicking in and years of training behind me, I managed to claw my way back—and with one last powerful stroke, I edged into first place.
Gold medal.
Time: 6:31.3
A finish I’ll never forget.
2nd: Stephen Bailey 6:31.5 / 3rd: Mark Fountaine 6:32.6 / 4th: Adrian Peel 6:32.9
World Rowing Indoor Championships: Bronze on the Global Stage
After a brief (and very necessary) week off, it was straight back into training. The next target: the World Rowing Indoor Championships.
The field was stacked, and the level stepped up another gear. I gave everything I had and came away with a bronze medal, crossing the line in 6:26.8 — 4.5 seconds faster than in Birmingham, and just enough to make it onto the podium. This time the race isn’t quite as close as Richard Tomlinson from New Zealand smashed the field in 6:15.5, a phenomenal time for this age category! Silver went to Terje Kydland of Norway in 6:23.9 and fourth was Peter Gammeltoft from Denmark in 6:29.9.
While it’s still a fair bit off my personal best from over 20 years ago, I’m proud to still be pushing myself, still improving, and still competitive at this level. Indoor rowing in your 50s isn’t about chasing old numbers—it’s about chasing your potential today. And I like that challenge.
Looking Ahead
Now, the focus shifts to next season. I’m back in training with renewed motivation and clear goals: stay strong, stay healthy, and get quicker. There’s always more to learn, and always a few more seconds to chase.
Bring on the 2025/26 season.