Denmark Rowers heave their way to success at Augusta Picnic Regatta

The Denmark Rowers have taken out the Margs Mug after fielding a mixed crew in the challenge at this year’s Augusta Picnic Regatta in a St Ayles skiff.

Sally Ward, Ann and Ted Kirkbride, Peter Kovesi and cox David Cliff did well to fend off all-male crews from Royal Bay Yacht Club and Augusta Rowers and the team attributes its success to coach Ward who hails from Nairn’s Skiff Club in Scotland.

The regatta kicked off at 8am on January 27 with a 3.5km race against the tide from Turner Street Jetty to the Augusta Yacht Club followed by a series of 250m shortcourse races.

Denmark performed well across the board with crews claiming first-place honours in the men’s race, third in the veterans race and the mixed crew race, and fifth in the ladies race.

An afternoon of prize giving and sea shanties capped off a top morning on the water and the group is looking forward to its next major challenge, Steamers Run in Victoria.

The marathon row will put 10 Denmark Rowers through their paces as they undertake a 100km in-company paddle across the Gippsland Lakes network from Sale to Lakes Entrance in a borrowed Geelong skiff.