Tim Brabants in training for the Sark to Jersey rowing race

A TOTAL of 186 competitors in 54 boats will line up at the start of this year’s Jersey Post Sark to Jersey Rowing Race on Saturday 4 July.

The fleet, which is one of the biggest in the race’s 43-year history, will include British Olympic kayaking gold medallist Tim Brabants who will compete in a Jersey-based men’s fours, as well as a number of local seasoned rowers and some from Guernsey and France.

Organisers are delighted at the high turn-out for the event, which is the premier race in the Channel Islands’ rowing calendar, and competition for the various trophies is expected to be fierce.

Former doctor at the General Hospital, Brabants, who had previously said he and his team would like to break the two-hour barrier, has been preparing hard for the challenge and is excited at the prospect of taking part.

‘I’m really looking forward to returning to the Channel Islands for the race. I’ve been training as much as I can on the rowing machine and getting out on the river in a double scull,’ he said.

The race begins at 12 noon and the first boats are expected at Bonne Nuit around two hours later. Spectators should park in Les Platons car park from where minibuses will run to Bonne Nuit from 1 pm.