What is the NMSL?
The Norwich Masters’ Sculling Ladder is competitive winter training for Masters from any Norwich rowing club, and occasional guest scullers, with a “leg” each month from September to March. (See “Participation”, below.)
Final Standings in The Ladder
In the 12th year of The Ladder (2024/2025) the medal awardees are:
- Top of The Ladder and awarded both the fastest woman sculler and the Nick Cooper Trophy Mirella McGee
- Men’s fastest (and 2nd place on the Ladder ) Lawrence Taylor
- Fastest Newcomer (first winter of participation only) Rich Whitefoot
- Meynell Medal (trophy presented by Ant Meynell for the oldest sculler by date of birth to have completed ALL legs of the Ladder) Harry Scott
- The Wood Award for the fastest “supermaster double” and the Conway Challenge for “senior inexperienced doubles” were not contested this series
Results of February’s leg (Paddy’s Run)
Results of January’s leg (Paddy’s Run)
Results of December’s leg (Paddy’s Run)
Results of November’s leg (Paddy’s Run)
Results of October’s leg (Paddy’s Run)
Results of September’s leg (Paddy’s Run)
Last Year
The Ladder 2023/2024 medal winners were:
- Winner of The Ladder and the Nick Cooper Trophy Vygantas Audinis
- Women’s fastest Mirella McGee
- Fastest Newcomer (first winter of participation only) Simon Mortham
- Meynell Medal (trophy presented by Ant Meynell for the oldest sculler by date of birth to have completed ALL legs of the Ladder) Lawrence Taylor
- The Wood Award for the fastest “supermaster double” Pam Turnbull and Keith Baxter
Roll of Honour – All medal winners, all years (opens in new tab)
Trophies in 2021/22
Participation
- For each leg, the masters undertake a “Paddy’s Run” in their single.
- The Run is a time trial that starts at the Old Chestnut Tree by the entrance to the River Yare New Cut.
- Runs are usually on the last Sunday of each winter month. Starting with the currently slowest first at around 07:50.
- Scullers paddle downriver to “Paddy’s Pump” (a land mark used as a customary turning point for winter training outings).
- They turn at “Paddy’s” and come back to finish at the Chestnut Tree. That’s total distance of 14.4 km, taking them approximately 65 to 85 minutes to complete.
- Timers at the Tree take all start and finish times.
- The raw times are adjusted for masters age and gender.
- Adjusted times are aggregated for positions on The Ladder.
- A penalty time is awarded for a sculler not turning up or (rarely) not completing the Run.
- Participants have their slowest Run time deducted from the aggregate (so scullers can afford to clock up one penalty time and still be in contention for a good place!).
- This is not a race, but intensive distance training that tests endurance, watermanship and mental strength, and offers a competitive atmosphere to motivate the Masters in the long winter months.
- To make it more fun, the following medals are awarded at the end of winter:
- Men’s fastest
- Women’s fastest
- Fastest Newcomer (first winter of participation only)
- Meynell Medal (for the oldest sculler by date of birth to have completed ALL legs of the Ladder).
Can I join in?
If you are of Masters age and can boat in a single for the Runs, you are welcome to join in. You don’t have to do all the Runs, but you get a penalty time for each Run missed, for the Ladder standings. Guest scullers are welcome where entry numbers permit. Contact David Wynne, using nmsl@yareboatclub.org
Past Ladders
