Category Archives: News

Stratford Represent West Midlands with Pride

Posted on by

Following selection trials several weeks ago, Saturday last saw four Stratford upon Avon Boat Club Junior crews representing the West Midlands Region at the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta which was held at the National Water Sports Centre at Nottingham.

Racing over 1500 metres at Holme Pierrepont, Stratford’s athletes put in great performances in the heats and the finals.

First to go was Joe Hodson in his single scull in the Junior 15 age group: following a brave performance in his heat and against strong competition, he finished in fifth in his final with a controlled and well managed racing plan. A crew of girls in the fifteen age group competed in the coxed fours’ event. Although new to sweep rowing (one oar per athlete), Autumn Keil, Molly Gill-Swift, Khloe Curnock and Katie Philips, coxed impeccably by Mimi Hill, qualified on time for the A final. A super performance against formidable opposition from Henley Rowing Club, Latymer Upper School and Becket School saw them come home in fourth place – a tremendous achievement and contribution of points to the West Midland Team. Equally outstanding was the girls coxless four rowing in the Junior 16 category. The WJ16 coxless four comprised of Isobel Marsden, Eleanor Gray, Lara Davies and Madeline Winsper had the most exciting race in their final overhauling all their opposition to gain seventh place overall in their event.

The most outstanding performance of the day went to Emily Browne in her single scull in the girls Junior 15 event: having finished fourth fastest in the heats, she put in a blistering performance in the final only to be pipped close to line to earn the Bronze Medal finishing 1.6 seconds behind the Gold Medal winner.

Said coach Dr Graham Collier, “Once again, Stratford upon Avon Boat Club punched well above its weight keeping the Club’s reputation at the forefront of West Midland’s rowing and nationally.”

For media cover, please see Stratford Observer online at https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/…/stratford-rowers-represen… and back page and also Stratford Herald p20 and online at http://www.stratford-herald.com/69762-stratford-boat-clubs-…

Stratford Win in Style at Abingdon

Posted on by

 

Stratford upon Avon Boat Club went in force to Abingdon’s Spring Head with two very full trailers and athletes from all squads: together, with their sister club King Edward The Sixth School (KES), there were over thirty crews to one of the last head races of the year prior to the start of the regatta season. The conditions were very warm and sunny with a variable wind on a wide stretch of the Thames. Stratford and KES came away with nine race wins and fastest times in many categories. The racing was of the highest standard with Stratford and KES crews racing against many of the local based clubs and experienced Thames rowers

A stand out performance was delivered by Stratford’s WJ 17 coxless quad comprising Theo Mordaunt, Claire Teakle, Lauren Willis and Sofia Ward. They were the fastest boat in a competitive event beating City of Oxford and Evesham by four and seven seconds respectively. Stratford’s J13 entries, a girls’ coxed quad (Julia Gurden, Elizabeth Edwards, Emma Harrison, Abbey Meggeson and cox Mary Walton) and double scull (Martha Usselmann and Sienna Rawlings) competed for only the second time having been rowing for just six months. Both crews gave it their all over the two kilometre course against the stream and coped very well with the notorious ‘Abingdon Bend’. Lara Davies had a good row to finish runner up in the W16 single scull category

Junior highlight of the day was Stratford rower Esme Booth, rowing in King Edward The Sixth School colours in the Junior Women’s single scull event where she won her event and achieved the fastest female junior sculler of the day also winning the RF Wilson trophy

KES went on to win three events out of four races: KES 1st Junior Boys’ Coxed Four consisting of Pieter Skuse, Alex del Principe, Kit Gallagher, Joe del Principe with cox Charlie Waters finished a creditable third place in the Men’s Band Three event whilst the KES 2nd Junior Boys’ Four of Kit Gallagher, Robert Cadden, Keiran Pope, Alex del Principe and cox Charlie Waters finished in first position for a win in the Men’s Band Four event. Not to be outdone, the KES Junior Women’s coxed four of Africa Jones, Esme Booth, Liv Hansen, Caitlin Britt and cox Simran Gil, competing in the Open Women’s event, took another fantastic win against senior opposition

Four of Stratford’s Senior Men’s Squad raced in a coxless four as well as a quad, winning both events and ending with some of the quickest times of the day. Ed Lewry and Harpreet Mander from the four also took their singles out coming in second in Band Two and second in Band Three respectively. Said the Senior Men’s Squad coach Bill Sullivan, “This was a promising way to prepare for their upcoming Easter training camp!”

Stratford’s Masters’ E4+ also won convincingly over Evesham in eight minutes and six seconds and Stratford Masters C/D/E 2- also won in eight minutes and twenty two seconds (handicapped from an actual time of eight minutes and forty eight second) by a narrow margin of three seconds over City of Oxford who they will be meeting again in the upcoming regatta season

Stratford’s W2x saw another convincing win in their Band 2 race and the Club’s MX4+ managed a time of eight minutes and thirty eight second and have great potential for the mixed events in the summer coxed or coxless

Said Steve Wellstead, Stratford Boat Club’s Junior Co-ordinator, “Very much worth a mention is our J14.2x (Fred Tyler and Dan Cox) for their commanding win over five crews from Henley, Reading and Wallingford with a time fast enough to beat six of the nine J15.2x crews”

For media coverage, see Stratford Herald p14, online at http://www.stratford-herald.com/68912-excellent-esme-steals-show-abingdon.html and Stratford Observer online at https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/sport/stratford-win-in-style-at-abingdon

For more excellent photographs from Abingdon, see Stuart Baines’ selection at https://1drv.ms/f/s!AgY7EiDB2lCO5i1GtEihKRQAxfme

Challenging Conditions for Stratford Junior Crews

Posted on by

Stratford upon Avon Boat Club Junior crews were back on the water this last week for the pinnacle events of the head racing season, the Junior Sculling Head at Dorney Lake and the Schools Head of the River on the Thames in London.

On the Olympic course at Dorney Lake the J14 and J15 squads took on competition from around the UK in addition to some crews travelling from Italy to compete at this high profile Junior Sculling Head. Conditions were windy and challenged rowers and coxswains alike.

The J15 squad fielded two women’s coxed quadruple sculls and demonstrated strength in depth with both crews finishing in the top twenty. The crew of Gracie Mitchell, Molly Gill-Swift, Khloe Curnock, Katie Phillips and Matilda Watts (cox) finally overhauling the crew of Autumn Keil, Emily Browne, Jessica Weisheu, Katie Wellstead and Mimi Hill (cox). In the open event, the J15 crew of Max Griffiths, Geoffrey Flambert, Fred Tyler, Joe Hodson and Naomi Sergeant (cox) rowing for the first time together put in a respectable performance to finish half way up the field.

The result of the day however came from the J14 women’s coxed quadruple scull of Jasmine Mountney, Mya Kenny, Nixie Brunt, Alice Baines and Naomi Sergeant (cox) who mastered the tricky conditions to finish ninth of the 58 crews entered. Said Steve Wellstead, Junior Co-ordinator, “This places Stratford juniors amongst the top crews in the country and makes for an exciting summer regatta season ahead.”

Meanwhile on Thursday at the School’s Head of the River Race in London, attracting three hundred and fifty crews from around the country, two crews from Stratford upon Avon Boat Club were there to battle it out in grueling conditions.

Strong squalls and rough water – with breaking waves in places – forced the organisers of the UK’s largest annual school-age head race (where crews aged between fourteen and eighteen years old row against the clock) to shorten the course which traditionally follows the reverse of the University Boat Race from Chiswick Bridge to Putney.

“At times it felt like we were rowing on the sea,” said Issy Marsden, stroke of the Stratford WJ16 coxed four. Along with crew members Ellie Gray, Lara Davies, Maddy Winsper and Robin Connolly (their cox), the girls put in an impressive time to finish seventh out of fourteen, beating tough competition from Kingston Girls School, Kings School Worcester and Idroscalo Club from Italy. Their time of 6:26.3 would also have secured them seventh place in the older WJ18 category.

Also representing Stratford, Maddie Griffiths, Theo Mordaunt, Claire Teakle and Sophia Ward put in a spirited performance in their WJ17 coxless quad with a time of 7:02.6.

“It is tremendous to see our juniors from Stratford upon Avon Boat Club competing with the best crews in the country – and some from abroad – on arguably the toughest stretch of water to be found anywhere in the UK,” said coach Mark Holden. “The weather conditions were extremely challenging and both Stratford crews acquitted themselves extremely well.”

See also Stratford Herald online http://www.stratford-herald.com/68214-junior-rowers-shine-d… and p20 and Stratford Observer p38 and online https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/…/tough-tests-for-junior-ro…

See also Will Gray’s photos at https://wetransfer.com/…/5ddf2cd06d1ab4010f4a5c5590e…/71c1d7 and David Phillip’s photos at https://www.flickr.com/…/13587…/albums/with/7215767846312699

London Scalps for Stratford Masters

Posted on by

Stratford upon Avon Boat Club Masters’ squad headed to London on Sunday for the penultimate race of their head calendar, the Vesta Veterans International Eights Head of the River Race on the famous Thames Tideway.

The event, held on a flood tide over the same course the week before the famous Oxford Cambridge University boat race, attracted a full field of two hundred and thirty crews of national and international competitors from as far afield as the United States making for a spectacular sight on a sunny if blustery day.

The event had been in doubt due to heavy winds and tides which resulted in the Head of The River Race for seniors being cancelled the day before and also the disruption to the schools Head event earlier in the week. The organisers Vesta Rowing Club with fingers crossed were provided with blustery but rowable conditions which although resulting in a shortened course of four kilometres meant racing could commence on time and to plan.

Stratford’s Masters, racing in their composite eight with Bridgnorth Rowing Club, were up against a strong field many of whom they had raced the previous week at the North of England Head and narrowly beat Grosvenor, York and Agecroft, all of whom were out for revenge.

Starting in sixty seventh place behind two Grosvenor crews, the Stratford rowers Simon Beard, Tim Lunel, Richard Nelson, Tom Doherty, and cox Becky Stokes joined by Bridgnorth colleagues Paul Wallace, Stuart Round, Rob Graham and Alan Champion in their Masters D age category event, powered off the start at a lively thirty four strokes per minute. It was not long before their high tempo closed down one of the Grosvenor crews who made it very difficult for Stratford/Bridgnorth to pass forcing the crew out of the stream on the wide bend at Chiswick. Finally after a number of strong pushes, the crew was clear and able to pull away but lost a significant amount of time in the process. This allowed a very strong Marlow crew, themselves being followed closely by a powerful Dutch crew, to close and challenge for the place.

The Stratford/Bridgnorth crew, ably stroked by Paul Wallace, was not going to give their position up without a fight and maintained a strong rhythm at over thirty four strokes per minute up to and past Barnes Bridge putting clear water between them and Marlow in tricky conditions. A final push saw them maintain their advantage to beat Marlow in under three seconds in the final moments.

The crew, despite the tricky conditions, were able to finish in thirty fifth place overall out of two hundred and thirty one entries, and ninth of eighteen crews in their D event in a time of fourteen minutes and twenty eight seconds claiming many high quality scalps including, Lea, Molesey, Thames, Worcester, Reading, Thames Tradesmen and Marlow clubs.

Said Simon Beard, “This was a solid row in very difficult conditions against very high quality opposition and we can all be very pleased to finish in the top fifteen percent of entries and with our overall performance.”

See also Stratford Observer p38 and online at https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/…/london-scalps-for-stratf…/

Stratford Masters Take Northern Scalps!

Posted on by

Stratford upon Avon Boat Club Masters rowers completed their final training competition with a high quality event in the North of England on Saturday before they compete next Sunday in the International Masters’ Head Race held on the Thames.

Competing in the North of England Head race held on the picturesque river Dee in the heart of Chester, the event forms the final training opportunity for competitors heading to London and, as such, attracted a very high quality field from all over the North of England with current national Masters champions evident amongst the competition. Raced over a five kilometre course from Eccleston ferry and culminating in a finish at the meadows in front of Royal Chester Boathouse, the course on a wide river offered plenty of opportunities for exciting racing in good conditions.

Stratford rowers Richard Nelson, Simon Beard, Tim Lunel, Tom Doherty and cox Becky Stokes were joined by Bridgnorth colleagues Paul Wallis, Rob Graham, Al Champion and Stuart Round in Masters D age division eights for an early morning campaign. Racing against highly fancied crews from York and Agecroft amongst others and local favourites Grosvenor who beat the Stratford boys into second place last year by seventeen seconds, led to a highly charged encounter the whole way down the course with no crew giving any quarter.

The Stratford/Bridgnorth composite crew determined to take the race to the opposition from the start set off at high thirty four strokes per minute for the first two kilometres only settling to thirty strokes per minute for the remaining three kilometres of the race to keep the pressure on all their opponents for the whole race. In a lung bursting finale, the Stratford/Bridgnorth crew pulled away over the last five hundred metres from a determined York crew bearing down on them for the whole race.

The exhausted crew were forced to wait for the official race time results between the main competitors with finishing places being too close to call. With the results finally announced over two hours later, Stratford/Bridgnorth crew’s hard efforts were fully justified with a wafer thin win over Grosvenor by a margin of only two seconds! In a time of seventeen minutes and fifty five seconds to record the second fastest time of the morning division of events and victory over close competitors York and Agecroft to add to their collection of scalps.

Said Tom Doherty Stratford Boat Club Masters Vice Captain, “This was a hugely pleasing result to have made up almost twenty seconds on a high quality Grosvenor crew since last year, as well as beating arch competitors Agecroft and York. This means we can go into the London event next Sunday with the confidence of knowing another good performance will enable us to be very competitive.”

See Stratford Herald p15

Ten Medal Haul for Stratford upon Avon Boat Club

Posted on by

Stratford Junior crews performed exceptionally well at the West Midlands trials held at Worcester on Sunday. The winning crews in each event have been selected to represent the West Midlands at the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta at the National Water Sports Centre on the 22nd April.

Stratford’s first gold was won by Joe Hodson in the J15 single sculling event. Despite being swamped by a safety launch rushing to the rescue of another sculler before the start, Joe steered an excellent course taking advantage of the strong current to win by four seconds. Jess Wiesheu and Katie Wellstead also claimed silver in a very competitive WJ15 2x event losing out to Ross by just eleven seconds.

The WJ14 coxed quad won a bronze medal, only nine seconds off the winning time. Alice Baines, Nixie Brunt, Mya Kenny and Jasmine Mountney were coxed by Naomi Sergeant in her first competition. The J13 squad entered two quads competing in their first event. Finishing second and third only fifteen seconds apart after ten and a half minutes and 2,500 meters of highly committed sculling.

Stratford’s second gold of the day was won in emphatic style by Emily Browne in the WJ15 1x event beating strong opposition from Ross by sixteen seconds. Fred Tyler and Max Griffiths won silver in the J14 2x event.

Isobel Marsden, Eleanor Gray, Lara Davies and Madeline Winsper won Gold in the Women’s Coxless Four event beating King’s School Worcester by twenty seven seconds on their own water, a fine achievement in such a fast current. The WJ15 coxed quad of Katie Wellstead, Jess Wiesheu, Emily Browne, Gracie Mitchell and coxswain Matilda Watts came within inches of gold only to be beaten by 0.2 of a second by Shrewsbury. A fantastic performance in a very competitive event of ten crews. Particularly for Matilda in her first event.

Katie Phillips, Khloe Curnock, Molly-Gill Swift, Autumn Keil and Hermione Hill took revenge by beating Shrewsbury by nine seconds in the WJ15 coxed four to win Stratford’s fourth gold medal. Dan Cox finished the day by winning silver in the J14 1x event. Said Steve Wellstead, Junior Co-ordinator, “Stratford’s medal haul was ten which was more than any other club at the event. With four winning crews from Stratford going forward to represent the West Midlands at the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta in April, Stratford Juniors are looking in good form for the coming regatta season.”

See Stratford Herald p14 and online at http://www.stratford-herald.com/67710-perfect-ten-stratford…. Also Stratford Observer p38 and online at https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/…/ten-medal-haul-for-stratf…

For more great pictures of our successes at British Rowing’s West Midlands Junior Inter Regional Trials, see David Phillips’ excellent selection https://www.flickr.com/…/135872444…/albums/72157679434014351

Stratford’s Masters Shine in Bad Weather

Posted on by

Stratford upon Avon Boat Club Masters’ squad built on their previous head season run of good form with a visit to local club Gloucester on Sunday to take part in their spring head racing competition. Held on the Gloucester to Sharpness canal over five kilometres, the race was a chance to test the small boat skills and endurance of the Masters’ squad under competitive racing conditions.

The event, held over two divisions, took place in very challenging weather conditions testing the skill levels of all competitors. With high winds, rain and a mixture of sun and heavy downpours, the course proved to be very challenging with rough water evident in large sections making for some very bumpy racing with many crews struggling to cope with the conditions.

First up for Stratford was Tim Lunel in Masters’ D single sculls which is a very difficult boat to row in the choppy conditions. Tim, following on from an impressive showing at Northampton, completed the course in a very respectable time to win his event.

Next to brace the conditions for Stratford was the Women’s Novice double sculls of Kjersti Woolley and Vicky Brennan. The duo, in only their first race together, were forced to race in the high IM2 category due to the race schedule which meant the crew were up against some very experienced competitors. Notwithstanding, Kjersti and Vicky refused to be daunted and battled their way down the course in a strong field to finish only a minute behind the winners, a tremendous achievement.

In the afternoon division in conditions worsening from the morning: Tim Lunel proved to be a glutton for punishment and, braving the elements once again, he raced this time in a Masters’ D double scull with Tom Doherty. After a strong start in blustery choppy conditions, the double were able to overhaul their competitors and several other crews to win their event.

Said Vicky Brennan, Women’s Vice Captain, “Although we only had a small entry, it was great to see all three crews performing well with two wins and a good showing in the third event. It was very pleasing to see the Women’s section of the Club represented at this event and we look forward to a large representation at Abingdon head in the coming weeks.”

See also Stratford Herald p16 and Stratford Observer online https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/sport/masters-rowers-maintain-their-momentum

Stratford’s Masters Progress at Worcester

Posted on by

Stratford upon Avon Boat Club made the trip to local club Worcester for the long distance spring head on Saturday 18th February. The event, which is raced over one of the longest provincial courses in the country at 6km, was held in overcast but otherwise good rowing conditions.

The event, which is restricted to fours and eights, attracted a high quality field in all disciplines from across the Midlands and the South West.

Raced over two divisions, the morning division saw crews from Stratford’s sister club King Edwards School racing in the Men’s J18 coxed four and Women’s IM3 coxed four events with the men recording a very good event win in a time of 22 minutes and 31 seconds.

Stratford Masters then followed rowing in a combined crew with Bridgnorth Rowing Club in the highly contested Masters C/D age category event against seven entries from across the region and recorded a nail biting win over highly fancied Monmouth by a mere two seconds in a time of 19 minutes and 48 seconds to win the event. In the afternoon Stratford’s Masters again took to the water with two crews battling it out in Masters C/D and E/F age category events in coxed fours.

The Stratford Masters C/D crew straight from racing in the successful winning eight in the morning division kept up the winning streak with a comprehensive win over Bridgnorth Rowing club in a time of 21 minutes and 33 seconds. Despite a polished performance, the Stratford Masters E/F crew were denied a chance of making it a clean sweep of event wins by a high quality Monmouth crew ultimately finishing in third place in a time of 23 minutes and 29 seconds.

Said Tom Doherty, Masters Vice Captain, “It was great to see two masters fours in highly competitive racing, allied to a very positive result with our friends from Bridgnorth as we continue training for the national eights competition in London in March.”

See also Stratford Herald online http://www.stratford-herald.com/66609-stratford-masters-imp… and p15 and Stratford Obsever p31 & online https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/…/stratfords-masters-progre…

British Rowing ‘Volunteer of the Year’ for Stratford’s Hawkins

Posted on by

SuABC Hawkins VOTY 2Last weekend was a busy one for Stratford upon Avon Boat Club on and off the water. Whilst winning pots and medals at heads and regattas is very gratifying for crews, Stratford Boat Club felt enormous pride when Master’s member Glyn Hawkins was presented with British Rowing’s most prestigious honour as ‘Volunteer of the Year’

Said Annamarie Phelps CBE, Chairman of British Rowing, the sport’s governing body, “The British Rowing Volunteer of the Year Awards Lunch is one of our most important events. It celebrates all that is best about our sport of rowing.

The very many volunteers and coaches across the length and breadth of the country that give up their days, evenings and weekends to enable others to get out onto the water and take part in the gym are indispensable. Those receiving the award have been singled out amongst all these amazing volunteers, by their peers, because of the outstanding impact they have made at their club.

It is not just the time and energy – and in many cases hard-earned cash –that make rowing the amazing community that it is. In whatever region and with whatever age group or ability the volunteer works, it is the generosity, professionalism and enthusiasm that inspires those around the volunteer.”

For the West Midlands Region Regional Winner Club Administration Category Volunteer Award, Glyn Hawkins’ citation read:-

“Glyn acted as ‘The Customer’ during the planning, design and build phase of Stratford upon Avon Boat Club’s biggest club project over a generation, costing hundreds of thousands of pounds. His commitment and level of involvement during the entire project meant that Stratford upon Avon Boat Club now have a facility that enables the cub to grow and flourish, no longer constrained by their facilities. Also, Glyn’s design skill means that the Stratford Boat Club is now the envy of the region and is a fantastic venue for fundraising and events, ensuring a steady venue stream for the club which will help the Boat Club to further improve their rowing performance.

Without Glyn’s full-time dedication and expertise, Stratford upon Avon Boat Club would not have been able to undertake a project on such a scale, let alone to the standard and cost he has achieved. Without the extension, Stratford upon Avon Boat Club would not be able to grow membership. Without the refurbishment, the Boat Club would not have been able to keep their tenancy. Glyn’s involvement has secured the future of Stratford upon Avon Boat Club.”

Said Jen Cary, British Rowing’s West Midlands Region Council representative and captain emeritus of Stratford upon Avon Boat Club, “Although Glyn has been honoured by the Club for his outstanding service and has been presented with life membership, being awarded the very prestigious British Rowing Volunteer of the Year award is a very fitting and well deserved accolade and perfectly reflects Glyn’s dedication.”

Glyn’s award was presented by Dame Katherine Jane Grainger DBE who is the British rower with five Olympic medals and is Great Britain’s most decorated female Olympian. Katherine is a 2012 Summer Olympics gold medallist, four-time Olympic silver medallist and six-time World Champion. The presentation luncheon was at the Henley River & Rowing Museum.

See also Stratford Observer on line: https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/…/triumphs-to-savour-on-and…

Masters Score at Wycliffe

Posted on by

Stratford upon Avon Boat Club Masters coxed four crew won the Open Coxed Fours event at Wycliffe Big Head of the River Race on lastSuABC Wycliffe February 2017 Saturday

The Masters crew of Simon Skillings (stroke), Tim Lunel (3), Tim Hayter (2), Wallace Brown (bow), coxed by Jen Cary completed the four and a half kilometre course in eighteen minutes and thirty two seconds

Said Jen Cary, “It was a promising start to the season and particularly pleasing to beat so many good younger crews from rival regional clubs!”

Also see Stratford Observer https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/…/triumphs-to-savour-on-and… and Stratford Herald http://www.stratford-herald.com/66146-stratford-boat-club-o…