Retired Cockermouth GP Nick Cowan is just champion after earning a gold medal at the recent British Masters National Rowing Championships.

Cowan, a member of the Lakeland Rowing Club, based at the Derwentwater Marina in Portinscale, travelled to Nottingham for the championships.

The event attracted a record 1,500 competitors, all of whom qualify as masters rowers.

In rowing, you become a master rower after the age of 29 and compete in five year age bands.

On the second day, Cowan won gold in his single scull event, in a personal best time.

He won a very tight race by not much more than a metre over a competitor from Cambridge to claim the title.

Four Lakeland club members raced over the weekend, which was also their biggest entry ever.

David Thomas and Giusseppe Lund came a commendable third and fourth in their single scull events.

Nick Cowan and David Chappel in a double scull missed out of qualifying for their final by 0.4 of a second in spite of a personal best time over the 1k course.

The LRC is now coaching crews from both Keswick and Cockermouth Schools as well as adults new to the sport.

It is attending race events across the north of England and this season has enlarged its fleet of racing boats and has recently bought a new boat trailer that allows it transport its boats to events.

It welcomes new members and those keen to try a new sport. Contact lakelandrowingclub.com for more information.