News

Veteran charges ahead for gold

Marty Shevelove

09Jun08

A VETERAN and a rookie teamed up to win a gold medal at last weekend's Australian Rowing Championships on Lake Nagambie.

Competing in the masters age group, Ken Charge and Mary Hunter of the Carrum Rowing Club won the 1000m mixed D doubles in a very tight finish.

Charge, 57 of Parkdale, had won gold medals in previous masters races, but Hunter, 51 of Frankston, was making her masters debut.

"They dug deep and pipped the second-placed boat at the post," said Charge's wife Lynne, who urged them on from shore.

An hour before Charge and Hunter won the mixed D doubles, Charge won the men's E quad. Teaming up with three others he had never rowed with before, Charge and his new mates won by two lengths over 1000m.

Charge, a retired civil engineer, said he was a bit tired after the quinella. "But once you get that gold medal around your neck you forget a lot of things."

Charge has been rowing for nine years, Hunter five.

Charge got into rowing after daughters Joanne and Michelle took it up at school. He has his sights set on the World Masters Games in Sydney in September 2009.

Charge and Hunter were the only rowers from Carrum Rowing Club to compete at the championships. Rowers came from all over the country for the yearly event, but were representing their home clubs and not their state.

Carrum Rowing Club is looking to build up its crews for the 2009 Masters and other competitions. Those who have rowed before and would like to get back to the boatshed can phone club secretary Lynne Charge on 0416 113 814.

Courtesy Mordialloc-Chelsea Leader - http://www.mordiallocchelsealeader.com.au/article/2008/06/09/36629_mcv_sports.html