Marvel Mark sets new British record

A Bexhill Rowing Club talent set a new British record at the Olympic Velodrome on Sunday.
Bexhill Rowing Club talent Mark Mitchell was in record-breaking form at the British Indoor ChampionshipsBexhill Rowing Club talent Mark Mitchell was in record-breaking form at the British Indoor Championships
Bexhill Rowing Club talent Mark Mitchell was in record-breaking form at the British Indoor Championships

Mark Mitchell won the 2km masters 40-49 lightweight men’s race at the British Indoor Championships in a time of 6mins 20secs.

Mitchell set off hard with a good start and never looked under threat. At halfway he was even on for the world record, but during the last 500m he struggled to maintain pace.

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Mitchell was one of 10 Bexhill Rowing Club members taking part in an event where thousands of competitors from across the country and even the world competed on the Concept indoor rowing machines.

Of the others, Phil McCorry, having just returned from his epic rowing journey across the Atlantic with Dan Renner, had little time to get used to rowing short sprints rather than 24-hour long rows in high seas! Nonetheless, he finished a superb fifth in his category in just over seven minutes.

Maya Coussens raced in the 1km open women’s event and also finished a fantastic fifth in a time of 3:59.

Vinny Hourihane and Josh Green raced in the toughest categories as they took on the British Olympians in the heavyweight events.

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Hourihane, who travelled over from France to compete, finished 11th in a time of just over eight minutes, whereas Green came 26th in 6:47.

Chris Mizen and Ian Cooper raced in the 2km masters 40-49 men’s event. The experienced Mizen finished 19th in 6mins 44secs and Cooper, who was accompanying his daughter and is relatively new to the rowing scene, was 49th in 7:29.

The junior section of the club performed equally well. Georgina Pepper finished 13th in an excellent time of 8:16, while Charlie Cooper, racing in the tough year 11 race over six minutes, came 38th with a total distance of 1,397m. Abigail Little raced in the year 10 event over five minutes and finished 30th with 1,234m.

In all it was an excellent turnout for Bexhill at this premier event are the club is heading off to London to race on the Rivers Thames at Greenwich this weekend.

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On Saturday February 28, the rowing club will host its own indoor event - the Sussex Mile - at Bexhill High School. Spectators are welcome and anyone wishing to enter should email [email protected].

A day later, Mitchell will be hoping to have more success at the World Indoor Championships in Boston, USA.