Sark to Jersey – on land

Inspired by Guernsey’s own virtual series, Jersey Rowing Club have gone on to provide a full calendar of 22 events for the coronavirus-stricken season, the most recent of which saw Sarnian James Travers take second.

This packed programme is open to Guernsey competitors throughout and includes virtual renditions of the two most prestigious events in Channel Islands rowing.

The virtual Sark to Jersey is set for 4 July and the Jersey to Carteret follows three weeks later, with both taking place over circa 27,000m on Concept2 ergometers.

And if still virtually bound in September, rowers will be able to tackle round-island equivalents of both Guernsey and Jersey, at 40,000 and 50,000m respectively.

‘We’d seen how successful the Guernsey virtual race calendar had been and I thought it would be good to keep people together and keep people active because we don’t know when we will be getting back on the water again,’ said JRC’s Will Le Quelenec.

‘Quite a lot of people had been training all through the winter for the season and this gives everybody an opportunity to get involved and still do things with the club and provide a bit of friendly competition as well.’

In JRC’s latest event, Travers came ever-so-close to his first virtual victory of the season. He clocked 20min. 53sec. in the second round of JRC’s Gin D Series, staged over 6,000m, to trail Jerseyman Des Nevitt by a mere six seconds. GRC captain Sam de Kooker clocked 21-50 for fifth overall and second Sarnian.

Jersey’s Rosemary Satchwell, who currently also leads the Guernsey championship with two wins, extended her tally of women’s honours with a 24-01 finish.

Guernsey return hosting favours on Wednesday evening with the 9,975m replica Havelet Buoyed race.