Etana-sponsored rowers become #2 in the world in Spain at the weekend

Champagne corks are flying at Etana House in Parktown today as their rowers became #2 in the world at the weekend.

Ramon Di Clemente and Shaun Keeling took silver at the World Cup Regatta in Spain on Sunday meaning they are now ceded #2 heavyweight pair in the world.

There was just three quarters of a boat-length between #1 and #2 at the finish. The South Africans were in the lead until the 1250 metre mark. “With 650 to go they got their nose in front and we both sprinted for the finish and they just managed to take the gold we were after,” said Di Clemente. Times were 6.31,70 British and 6.33,85 South Africans.

Commentators at the Banyoles course near Barcelona had predicted the gold would go to either the South Africans or the newly formed British pair of Andy Triggs-Hodge and Peter Reed who our South African Olympians will be taking on again next month at the Henley Royal Regatta. Di Clemente and Keeling won the historic trophy last year so the competition after today’s tussle will be intense.

This medal win makes it three out of three for Di Clemente in Spain, having competed and medalled in Saville and Banyoles three times now. For the 10 year younger Keeling winning at this international level is still fresh. “This is my first international silver so obviously I am happy but we were going for gold. We were leading and we wobbled a bit in the middle and they came through us and made a strong sprint. But it feels really good to be #2 in the world.”

Di Clemente describes his third and most recent partner as ‘a machine’. “He is only 22 and by the London Olympics he will be 25 and I predict will be unstoppable! We have grown enormously during the last year and when we get back to the High Performance Centre in Pretoria on Monday we are going to be working on a few small technical skills that will help our efficiency and eliminate a ‘wobble’ like today when the heat is on. Although as a pair we are up there with the best – and that’s good – quite honestly I want us to BE the best and we have more in the tank as a pair to do just that.”

Pictured below:

Shaun Keeling (left) and Ramon Di Clemente took silver at the World Cup Regatta in Spain, just three quarters of a boat length behind the British who took gold.