For most retirees living in the Algarve, you might think turning 80 would represent a time to reach for their pipe and slippers. Not so for long-time Lagoa resident Jim Brownlow, an enthusiastic and active member of the Algarve Hash House Harriers and Algarve Wednesday Walkers group.
The former Trinity College Dublin and London Rowing Club oarsman is the current British indoor rowing record holder over 2000m for the 75-79 age group (in a time of 7:32.6 minutes – a record set in 2008 and yet to be beaten). For Jim, turning 80 meant moving up an age group and the chance to set some new records.
After celebrating his 80th birthday last April on a family holiday to his birthplace in Londonderry, Ireland, Jim was inspired to take up the challenge. He started rowing as a schoolboy on the River Foyle in Derry, following on from his father and grandfather before him. In fact, his grandfather’s City of Derry crew had rowed to victory against the Australian Olympic eight in the 1924 Tailteann Regatta in Dublin.
With the full support of his wife, Deirdre, by now well used to feeding a hungry rower, Jim set about training four to five mornings a week on his Concept 2 indoor rowing machine in the basement – sticking to a punishing regime for a man of any age!
First up was the British Indoor Rowing Championships held in Cardiff in December last year. Despite not having the best row, Jim managed to win the event comfortably and set a new British and Irish record of 7:50.8. Feeling he still had some unfinished business, Jim then set his sights on the European Indoor Rowing Championships held in Copenhagen on January 25. Wearing as many winter woollies as he could muster, and accompanied by his daughter Siobhan as coach, they set off for Denmark and the championships.
The competition hall was divided into two blocks of 20 machines, with only one block racing at any given time. Jim’s race included all men over 70. The athletes were able to warm up briefly on their competition machine before coming under starter’s orders. Lifting their handles, the instructions were ‘Attention’, ‘ROW!’ and the clock started for the 2000m race. Each competitor was able to view the leader and their own position within the race on their screen. There was also an overhead screen for spectators showing all the ‘boats’ in relation to each other as they rowed down the 2000m course.
Leading from the start, Jim secured victory in a time of 7:49.2, beating his own British record and his nearest rival by nearly a minute. The time was just 3.7 seconds shy of the world record! Given the age of the athletes, most coaches were offering gentle encouragement. However, former oarswoman Siobhan’s encouragement was a little less forgiving – particularly over the last 500m: “Come on Dad, stuff it in! Bury yourself!”
Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, Jim’s elder daughter Kate, herself a two-time world silver medallist and Olympic oarswoman, watched the live feed online in Mozambique. Within moments of his victory, she was in contact with her Dad to congratulate him.
Following the medal ceremony and a well-earned pint of Carlsberg, Jim was able to reflect on his achievement: “I feel slightly disappointed not to have beaten the world record. I was on track to do so until the last 500m when I just didn’t have the legs to finish it off.”
Jim is now back home in the Algarve and looking forward to a break from training. So will there be another attempt on the world record? He has no plans at present, but time will tell…
