Rowing: Hamill scathing of oarsmen's protest

By JULIE ASH


"Ridiculous" is how Rob Hamill sums up the protest lodged by Steve Westlake and Matt Goodman against their fellow countrymen and victorious transatlantic rowers Kevin Biggar and Jamie Fitzgerald.

Hamill is the campaign director of Biggar's and Fitzgerald's syndicate, Team Holiday Shoppe, who won the race from the Canary Islands to Barbados in 40 days and five hours - nine hours ahead of the second-placed Westlake and Goodman.

However, a day after crossing the finish line Westlake and Goodman, who were the defending champions, lodged a protest.

A spokesman for Westlake and Goodman's Team CRC confirmed a protest had been put forward and the team was in the process of putting together the evidence.

"I can't give you the nature of the evidence at the moment but essentially it is about fair play," the spokesman said.

Hamill said his team knew little about the protest, which was expected to be heard this week.

"They got beaten and that is what it is about," Hamill said.

"It is just unnecessary nonsense as far as we are concerned. It is very, very disappointing."

It is understood the protest is in relation to how Biggar and Fitzgerald caught and passed their compatriots in the latter stages of the race.

The eventual winners trailed Westlake and Goodman by 50 nautical miles for most of the race. But less than two weeks out from the finish they passed them and powered out to a 30-mile lead.

Although the boats were scrutinised before and after the race, allegations of the use of a sail or throwing heavy equipment overboard have been bandied around.

"I have spoken to Kevin and Jamie and I have had assurance from them that they did everything 100 per cent to the rules," Hamill said.

"In the last race Steve and Matt were 80 miles behind the Australians, I think, or just under 80 miles, and they hauled them in and passed them within about three days.

"It was a greater distance and it was pulled in in a shorter time. No one commented on that.

"These guys [Team Holiday Shoppe] just don't deserve this, they have done a fantastic job."