Fisherlads rower Ken Greenwood (32) of Albert Place, came eighth over 2,000m in a startling time of six minutes and 25 seconds in the 30-34 heavyweight category.
This was just 30 seconds short of the championship record.
The championship is held every year at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham and attracts more than 3,000 participants.
The competitors raced throughout the day on Sunday on rowing machines to see who could post the fastest time.
It is the biggest indoor rowing event in the world.
It was the first time Ken, a former pupil of Whitby Community College, had ever taken part in an event of this kind.
"I have done some outdoor rowing before but have never competed in an indoor rowing event," he said.
"I was really pleased with my time and the fact I did so well as some of the people in my group were of Olympic class."
Ken trains at his local rowing club but admitted he finds it difficult to keep to a regular schedule.
"I did do some extra training but with me working in Harrogate I was not always able to find the time.
"I think I could do better and go even faster as I think I was a little inexperienced and maybe didn't go as fast as I could have at the beginning because I was worried about burning out.
"I had also been ill the week before although I managed to battle through it."
Over the years, the competition has attracted sporting heroes such as Sir Steven Redgrave and Oxford and Cambridge Universities have used the event as part of selection criteria for their boat crews.
Ken wanted to give his thanks to Mike and Nicola Clarkson for all their support over the weekend.
Ken hopes the rowing clubs in Whitby can put a team together for next year's event and also get local children involved as well.