Graham Benton
{{short description|British indoor rower}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Graham Benton
| honorific_suffix =
| image =
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| full_name =
| nickname = Big G
Erg Daddy
| nationality = British
| birth_date = c. 1973
| birth_place =
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| education =
| years_active = 2002-present
| height = 200cm
| weight =
| country = United Kingdom
| sport = Indoor rowing
| weight_class = Heavyweight
| team = MAD Team IRC
| coach = Eddie Fletcher
| retired =
| worlds = 6x
| regionals =
| nationals = 15x
| olympics =
| paralympics =
| commonwealth =
| highestranking =
| pb = 5:42.5 for 2000m
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}}
Graham Benton is a British indoor rower. He has won the British Rowing Indoor Championships 15 times and the World Indoor Rowing Championships six.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportonspec.co.uk/event/british-rowing-indoor-championships/|title=Mizuno British Rowing Indoor Championships 2019|date=2019-12-07|publisher=Sports on Spec|access-date=2022-05-15}} While Benton is primarily an indoor rower, he did row on the water, representing England and competing at several Henley Royal Regattas, including reaching the finals of the Thames Challenge Cup (M8+), The Prince of Wales Challenge Cup (M4x) and the Britannia Challenge Cup (M4+), respectively.
Athletic career
Benton competed in his first indoor rowing competition at age 29. In 2004, Graham Benton became the first non-water rower to win the men's open heavyweight event at the British Indoor Rowing Championships at 5:53.5.{{cite web|url=https://werow.co.uk/british-success-at-the-world-indoor-rowing-championships/|title=British success at the World Indoor Rowing Championships|date=2018-02-22|publisher=We Row|access-date=2022-05-15}}{{cite web|url=https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/7478516.indoor-success-for-county-rowing-stars/|title=Indoor success for county rowing stars|date=2004-11-27|publisher=Worcester News|access-date=2022-05-15}} He went on to win this title again in 2005 (5:46.9),{{cite web|url=http://www.rowingservice.com/bircs05live.html|title=British Indoor Champs 2005|date=2005-11-20|publisher=The Rowing Service|access-date=2022-05-15}} 2006 (5:46.7),{{cite web|url=http://www.rowingservice.com/bircs06res.html|title=British Indoor Rowing Championships 2006|date=2006-11-12|publisher=The Rowing Service|access-date=2022-05-15}} 2007, 2008,{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/other-sport/rowing-weighell-makes-top-10-2062949|title=Rowing: Weighell makes top 10 in London|date=2009|publisher=Wales Online|access-date=2022-05-15}} 2010 (5:50.8),{{cite web|url=https://www.row2k.com/results/files/birc_2010_results.pdf|title=Event A1 - Men Open Hwt|date=2010|publisher=Row2k|access-date=2022-05-15}} 2011 (5:46),{{cite web|url=https://worldrowing.com/2011/12/07/3000-brits-go-indoor-for-rowing/|title=3,000 BRITS GO INDOOR FOR ROWING|date=2011-12-07|publisher=World Rowing|access-date=2022-05-15}} 2012,{{cite web|url=https://worldrowing.com/2013/12/08/bentons-devoted-indoor-rowing-drive/|title=BENTON'S DEVOTED INDOOR ROWING DRIVE|date=2013-12-08|publisher=World Rowing|access-date=2022-05-15}}{{cite web|url=https://www.britishrowing.org/2012/03/indoor-rowing-records-smashed-at-the-2012-birc/|title=Indoor rowing records smashed at the 2012 BIRC|date=2012-03-26|publisher=British Rowing|access-date=2022-05-15}}{{cite web|url=https://blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/newsroom/2012/03/28/rowing-success-for-university-boat-club/|title=Rowing success for University Boat Club|last=Waddle|first=Harry|date=2012-03-28|publisher=University of Nottingham|access-date=2022-05-15}}{{cite web|url=https://www.malextra.com/sport/general/Steve+Redgrave-233868.html|title=Steve Redgrave's Last Indoor Rowing Record Is Broken|date=2012-04-02|publisher=Male XTRA|access-date=2022-05-15}} 2013 (5:52.4),{{cite web|url=https://www.britishrowing.org/2013/12/records-tumble-at-british-indoor-champs/|title=Records tumble at British Indoor Champs|date=2013-12-11|publisher=British Rowing|access-date=2022-05-15}} 2014 (5:52.4),{{cite web|url=https://www.vermontc2.com/es/noticias/?id=11|title=[07/01/2014] EL INGLÉS GRAHAM BENTON INSTAURA UN NUEVO RÉCORD DEL MUNDO EN 40-49 AÑOS|date=2014-01-07|publisher=Vermont|access-date=2022-05-15|language=es}} 2015 (5:55:6),{{cite web|url=https://www.britishrowing.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/British-Rowing-Indoor-Champs-2015-Results.pdf|title=British Rowing Indoor Championships|date=2015-12-15|publisher=British Rowing|access-date=2022-05-15}} 2016 (5:55),{{cite web|url=https://www.indoorchampsresults.com/records|title=CHAMPIONSHIP RECORDS|date=n.d.|publisher=Indoor Champs Results|access-date=2022-05-15}} 2017 (5:55.7),{{cite web|url=https://www.britishrowing.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/British-Rowing-Indoor-Championships-2017-Results.pdf|title=British Rowing Indoor Championships|date=2017-12-09|publisher=British Rowing|access-date=2022-05-15}} 2018{{cite web|url=https://regatta.time-team.nl/bric/2020/results/rc969fee5-f605-4792-bbd1-c63edc8210df.php|title=Sat, 11:11 - Race 109 - M40 2000 meter|date=2020|publisher=Regatta Time-Team|access-date=2022-05-15}} and 2023 {{cite web|url=https://racecreator.online/e6b69c5f-ad38-450d-4b80-08dbef75bd77/Results |title= Masters 50-54 Open 2000m |date=2023|publisher=British Indoor Rowing|access-date=2023-12-13}}. Benton also won the 30-39 year heavyweight class World Indoor Rowing Championships in 2004 (5:51.40),{{cite web|url=https://www.crash-b.org/wp-content/uploads/results/2004/event07.html|title=Results of Event: Master Men|date=2004|publisher=CRASH-B|access-date=2022-05-15}} 2005 (5:53.60),{{cite web |url=http://www.worldrowing.com/display/modules/news/dspNews.php?newid=324052 |date=2006-11-13 |title=Three in a row for Benton at the British Champs |last=Bray |first=Melissa |publisher=World Rowing |access-date=2022-05-15 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070628234455/http://www.worldrowing.com/display/modules/news/dspNews.php?newid=324052 |archive-date=28 June 2007 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.crash-b.org/wp-content/uploads/results/2005/event07-hwt.html|title=Results of Event: Master Men (30-39, Heavyweight)|date=2005|publisher=CRASH-B|access-date=2022-05-15}}, the Open Heavyweight class in 2006 (5:46.40){{cite magazine |last=Bordeau|first=Topher |title=Quick catches|url={{Google books|BEsEAAAAMBAJ|page=24|plainurl=yes}}|magazine=Rowing News|date=2006|access-date=2022-05-15}}{{cite web|url=https://www.crash-b.org/wp-content/uploads/results/2006/event01.html|title=Results of Event: Open Men|date=2006|publisher=CRASH-B|access-date=2022-05-15}} and in the 40-49 heavyweight class in 2016 (5:48.3),{{cite web|url=https://worldrowing.com/2016/03/01/years-indoor-rowing-crash|title=35 YEARS OF INDOOR ROWING AT CRASH-BS|date=2016-03-01|publisher=World Rowing|access-date=2022-05-15}}{{cite web|url=https://fmrowing.com/ambassadors/|title=FITNESS MATTERS INDOOR ROWING AMBASSADORS|date=2016|publisher=Fitness Matters|access-date=2022-05-15}}{{cite web|url=https://www.row2k.com/crashb/features/2016/146/CRASH-B-2016--35-Years-of-the-Burn/|title=CRASH-B 2016: 35 Years of the Burn|date=2016-02-29|last=Rosenbladt|first=Oli|publisher=Row2k|access-date=2022-05-15}} 2017 (5:48),{{cite web|url=https://termaxx.com/blogs/news/world-champion|title=World Champion|date=2017-08-10|publisher=Termaxx|access-date=2022-05-15}} and 2018 (5:54).{{cite web|url=https://www.ergsprints.com/erg-sprints-records/|title=ERG SPRINTS RECORDS|date=2019-02-08|publisher=ERG Springs|access-date=2022-05-15}}{{cite web|url=https://log.concept2.com/rankings/2018/rower/2000?age=40-49&weight=H&gender=M&rower=rower|title=2018 2000m RowErg Rankings|date=2018|publisher=Concept2|access-date=2022-05-15}}{{cite web|url=https://www.britishrowing.org/2018/02/graham-bentons-world-rowing-indoor-championship-review/|title=Graham Benton's World Rowing Indoor Championship review|date=2018-02-27|publisher=British Rowing|access-date=2022-05-15}}
In 2012, he set a new British record in the 35-39 heavyweight men's class at the British Indoor Rowing Championships (5:50.1), a title previously held by Sir Steve Redgrave since 1998. In 2014, he held the British outright record at 5:42.5 and in 2017, he had the fastest time in the men's heavyweight open 2000m at the Welsh Indoor Rowing Championships.{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/other-sport/rowing-stroke-genius-benton-2457913|title=Rowing: Stroke of genius by Benton|date=2017|publisher=Wales Onlineaccess-date=2022-05-15}} He was a Henley Royal Regatta finalist in outdoor rowing in 2007, 2008, and 2012.{{cite web|url=https://werow.co.uk/veterans-head-bradley-wiggins-makes-his-tideway-rowing-debut/|title=Veterans Head: Bradley Wiggins makes his Tideway rowing debut|date=2018-03-26|publisher=We Row|access-date=2022-05-15}} He was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by Concept2 in 2010.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}
Benton is coached by Eddie Fletcher and was previously part of the ARA World Class Start Program. He currently rows for MAD Team IRC, and has previously rowed for Tideway Scullers School, Taurus and Reading University Boat Club.
Personal life
Benton works as an Account Manager for BMC Software.{{cite web|url=https://www.squaremilerelayvirtualclub.com/en/blog/graham-benton-world-rowing-indoor-champion|title=Spotlight on: Graham Benton, World Rowing Indoor Champion|date=2021-03-01|publisher=Bloomberg Square Mile Virtual Club|access-date=2022-05-15}} He was formerly an "elite-level" cricket bowler and is an alumnus of King's School, Chester.{{cite web|url=https://www.kingschester.co.uk/alumni/notable-alumni/|title=Notable Alumni|date=n.d.|publisher=The King's School, Chester|access-date=2022-05-15}} He is from Wrexham originally and now lives in Southsea, Hampshire.
References
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Category:People educated at The King's School, Chester