The World Rowing Championships have been held at Dorney Lake in 2006, the first time for this major annual event in the UK for over 20 years. 60 countries took part with 1,200 athletes, and a good deal of spectator support including from local school pupils under the WRC’s Adopt-A-Nation scheme.

The Opening Ceremony on August 19th included the Band of the Welsh Guards, young people on the Lake in bell-boats waving the flags of all the participating countries, a traditional boat pageant and brilliant fireworks. Five-times Olympic Gold Medal rower Sir Steve Redgrave officially opened the Championships with Denis Oswald, President of the international rowing body FISA and International Olympic Committee member responsible for all facilities for 2012, when the Olympic and Paralympic Games come to London.

Variable weather during the eight-day event did not detract from a wonderfully vibrant and enjoyable experience for athletes and spectators alike. For the first time too, since adaptive (disabled) rowing has been adopted in 2006 as a Paralympic sport, adaptive rowers put up a very impressive showing.

For full information and results see www.wrc2006.com and www.worldrowing.com.