The Tamar Rowing Club’s master rower Alan Kitto was one of those competing in New Zealand to attain gold in the quad scull category.

Kitto, 75, said he joined a team of “similar vintage” rowers including a teammate from Devonport, as well as two from Latvia and Lithuania.

“When you get to that stage, the field narrows down quite a bit,” Kitto said of finding the right team.

“We had a mixed four comprising of two women and two men, and the two ladies were from Latvia and we won a silver medal on that occasion.”

Kitto’s team snapped up another silver in the men’s coxed four, at a time of 4:06.92 against the winning American time of 3:59.27, and against the same team in the coxless four at 4:07.15, following the gold time of 3:52.20.

Despite his success in New Zealand, Kitto doesn’t have his sights set on the next World Masters in Japan in 2021.

His medals were welcome news for the Tamar Rowing Club, which is still recovering from the destructive floods nearly a year ago.

Club president Alan Weeding said Kitto’s success was a morale-booster for the 120-plus rowers who call TRC home.

“Alan is our most senior and well-respected rower,” he said.

“A stalwart of the club, he’s been right through every position from president down, and a very hard worker still today.”