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Stratford upon Avon Boat Club

The Channel Rowers Return!

After a number of delays due to poor weather conditions, the Stratford upon Avon Boat Club Channel rowers finally got clearance to attempt the crossing on last Friday morning.

Said Ray Coyte, crew captain,”We set off from Dover at just after 6am. The weather conditions were perfect with a flat sea, clear skies and only a slight wind. The boat felt very heavy and slow to begin with and it seemed to take ages to get away from the coast. At times, it felt as if the tide was just holding us back. There was a lot of shipping around us in mid channel and at one point we had to make an alteration of course to steer around and behind a West bound ship. Up close, you realise how fast they travel and how slow we were.”

“Rowing in heavy waterproofs and lifejackets was horrible and after a few hours we were all beginning to wonder if this was a good idea,” said Ruth Winter, crew member. “The sea started to build up just before the half way point and at times we found ourselves in some very choppy water that was throwing the boat all over the place. We found it hard to row through the rough water as we just could not settle into a steady rhythm and every time the boat hit a wave, it slowed us right down. It was never overly dangerous but we did get the odd wave slop over the side. As you can imagine, the problem was that you either had an immensely heavy oar to pull on or the oar was just missing the water completely! We all got a big boost when we passed the mid channel marker. Approaching the French coast was tough as it just seemed to take ages. The sea started to get really rough off Cap Gris-Nez and we really struggled to finish the row off.”

Said Jen Clements, Club Captain, “The Channel Rowers completed the crossing in a very respectable five hours and fifty eight minutes. They are all feeling a bit stiff at the moment but not too bad! Between them, they raised several thousand pounds for charity and they all, quite rightly, feel chuffed to bits! Stratford upon Avon Boat Club is very proud of our Channel Rowers and what they have achieved!”

AGM & Awards Presentation will take place on Tuesday 21st May at 8pm 2013

at the Boat Club

SPORTING stars, volunteers and businessmen are among those in Coventry and Warwickshire recognised in the New Year’s Honours.

Gold medal winning Paralympian James Roe has been made an MBE for services to rowing.

James had a rapturous welcome when he arrived home to Stratford-upon-Avon after he won gold in the mixed coxed four rowing event in the Paralympic Games.

The 24-year-old travelled around the town on an open-top bus as hundreds of spectators cheered and applauded and also had a post-box painted gold in his honour.

Latest update on the current flooding is that the club will remain closed today -Friday 23rd, and also tomorrow, Saturday 24th.

CONSEQUENTLY, ALL TRAINING SESSIONS ARE CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

Once conditions improve help will be required to clean-up the sludge, slurry and debris which will be left behind the receding water levels and further updates will be emailed to you as & when the site can be further assessed.

Please standby until then.

The river has risen rapidly overnight and is now into the boat sheds at the club and is up to the level of the lowest boat racks and to the steps at the back of the singles annexe near the changing room corridor.

Thanks to club members who were on site yesterday evening, and again early this morning, lower lying equipment and items most at risk have been moved to safer places. However, private boat owners are reminded that they are responsible for the safety of their items and should check on private belongings as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, with more rain and high winds forecast for later today, the club and grounds remains closed as a precautionary safety measure, to minimise risk of accidents since the flood water is covering grounds as well as being inside the building.

ALL LAND TRAINING SESSIONS ARE THEREFORE CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. 

A message to this effect has been circulated to local schools, but parents and juniors who were due a session later today should avoid going to the club after school for picking-up etc.

The situation is being monitored and updates will be issued as & when they become available, so do keep an eye on your email and also on the club’s website.

“The Stratford Town Trust Fast Track grants system came to the club’s aid recently following damage to two of the club’s boats. With our growing membership it is important to keep boats and equipment available and the Trust matched £200 from our repairs budget to allow the boats to be back in action within 3 weeks.”

LTAMix4+ with Stroke James Roe
Wins Gold at the Paralympics