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.)
The Ladder placings for Winter 2020 / 2021
The Ladder 2020 / 2021 Medal winners are highlighted, congratulations to:
- Fastest: Vygantas Audinis (NRC)
- Women’s winner: Katherine Trehane (NRC)
- Fastest Newcomer to The Ladder: Nathan Sergent (YBC)
- Meynell Medal for the Oldest Sculler to complete all runs of The Ladder: Lawrence Taylor (YBC)
Next Paddy’s Run
Is next September!
Marshalling and Start Order for Sunday 11th April – the final leg of 2020 / 2021!
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 third Sunday of each winter month. Starting with the currently slowest first at around 07:50. (Starts have been in “Waves” every 15 minutes from about 06:30 during the pandemic of 2020/2021 to fit in with clubs’ Covid protocols.)
- Scullers head 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 approximately 65 to 85 minutes.
- 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
