Michael Swain of Bermuda won a silver medal in the 50 to 60 age group at the Head of the Occoquan rowing event in Virginia last weekend when he teamed up with Col Tom Riddle of the United States to repeat their feat of two years ago in the men’s double sculls race.

Swain was competing in the long distance races along with his wife, Anita, who was taking part overseas for the first time. There were some 5,000 rowers at the event, which called for the competitors to take part in one gruelling distance race.

However, Michael competed in three races and Anita two, totalling some 50,000 metres between them.

Swain and Riddle teamed up for their race just 90 minutes after competing against each other in the singles race. They were second of six competitors while Swain was tenth in the singles out of 15 rowers.

“We were particularly pleased because all the other crews would have been competing together all year and fine-tuning their technique and tactics; our first outing together was the actual race!” Swain said.

“We are classed as ‘Grand Masters’, 50 to 60 years. But fit as racehorses!”

The long distance races are 5,000 metres where each crew starts at ten second intervals, trying to catch the boat in front of them and not be caught from behind. The winners are worked out on computer timing.

Swain founded the Bermuda Rowing Association in 2004 and has competed regularly overseas since then.

Last year he teamed up with Bermudian Lulu Headstrom to compete at the prestigious Head of the Charles regatta as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations.

Headstrom has gone on to row with Stamford University after several top-flight universities were trying to attract her rowing talents.

In Virginia, Anita Swain teamed up with Robin Quinn of the US to finish eighth out of ten competitors in the women’s double sculls over the same, equally gruelling, course as the men.

The Swains then swapped partners to compete each other in the mixed doubles, which kept things “friendly” as Riddle and Quinn were hosting the Swains. Michael Swain and Quinn placed fourth out of twelve competitors while Anita and Riddle were eighth.

The event was held just south of Washington DC, along the very windy Occoquan River. It is also challenging for the rowers as they face backwards in the boat, relying on the occasional glance over the shoulder to find the best course.

“I am very proud of Anita as this was her first time competing overseas,” Michael Swain said. “To do so well at such a large event is a credit to her training and dedication.

“The two-person boats are 34 feet long, weigh 59lbs and are twelve inches at their widest. So to balance one of these at full pressure for three long races is quite an achievement.”

Anita Swain added: “We trained hard for these events as we knew how draining they would be and the fast recovery time needed to get back on the water to do it all over again, and again!

“We were very lucky with the weather and only faced the headwinds over the final 1,000 metres — just when one is trying to ‘empty the tank’ of any remaining energy and sprinting for the line.”