Ryde Rowing Club’s Yogi Ashworth Rowing for the Royal Navy in Brazil. Strong Second From the Royal Navy.

Ryde Rowing Club’s Yogi Ashworth Rowing for the Royal Navy in Brazil. Strong Second From the Royal Navy.

Ryde Rowing Club’s Yogi Ashworth Rowing for the Royal Navy in Brazil. Strong Second From the Royal Navy.

The Royal Navy’s Midshipman 2x performed well in Rio, despite extremely limited training opportunities, securing second in the “Friendly Navies” division. With Midshipman Benjamin Nash, 23, in stroke and Midshipman Yogi Ashworth, 19, in bow; Yogi is a member of Ryde Rowing Club.

Yogi takes up the story -

“BRNC Dartmouth (Britannia Royal Naval College) does not usually have a rowing team, so when I received an email asking for those with rowing experience, I put my name down. It was only after selection that I learned that the race was going to be in Brazil, and only in a couple weeks’ time. After a total of three training sessions together, we were lining up on the start line. It was not the day you would expect from Brazil, persistent moderate rain, zero wind; temperate by English standards but, those from more tropical climates were clearly feeling the cold. We took this as an advantage.

Off the start we were up and, in the lead, up until the 250m mark. From here, we could see the Marinha Do Brazil’s “Escola Naval” side clawing it back from us. Around 500m for us to be completely parallel, by 750m they were ahead, and by the finish line at 1000m they were up 1 to 2 lengths. After crossing the line, forearms burning, we see we have secured second place, and as much as we were proud of our second, we were truly gunning for first.

After coming into the prize giving ceremony and having our interview for their broadcasting of the event, we got to have a chat with the other teams. And when the Brazilian side admitted that they had been rowing together for years, it made Ben and I feel a bit better. Regardless, it meant bringing glassware home, which is now on proud display in the Arthur Harrison VC Gymnasium back at Dartmouth.

Racing on the iconic Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, at the XLVIII Regatta A Remo Da Escola Naval, is truly one of my most fond rowing memories. It was my first international regatta, so coming to the podium was truly special. The scenery was incredible, the distinctive steep mountains of Rio and having Christ the Redeemer watching over truly made an unmatchable atmosphere.

Lastly, I would like to thank Ryde Rowing Club for bringing me up from a complete rowing beginner, to competing internationally. I owe it to the club.”