Stratford’s Masters Show Promise on the Weaver

Saturday saw the Bridgnorth/Stratford upon Avon composite eight continue their training and race programme in preparation for the International Vesta Masters event in London on 19th March with a trip to Runcorn in Cheshire to take on Northern opposition following their recent competitions in the Midlands.

The race was on the River Weaver over a 6km course the race promised a step up in competition levels. The race saw the finalisation of the crew for London with a welcome return of former crewmate Simon Beard from the Warwick Club. Lining up against Bridgnorth/Stratford in the event were high quality crews from Chester, Grosvenor, Agecroft, Warrington, Trafford and Pengwern competing in a range of age categories. Immediate competitors in the same age category for Bridgnorth/ Stratford upon Avon were quality crews from Grosvenor and Royal Chester Clubs.

Starting first of the three necessitated a fast getaway from the chasing crews and with Paul Wallis setting a solid stroke rate of 33 strokes per minute, the stage was set for a hard race with no quarter given. The first two kilometres were spent holding Grosvenor at bay and maintaining the starting gap between boats by keeping the power and rating high and controlled. Gradually as the crew settled into their race plan they began to ease out slowly increasing the gap from the pursuing crews over the midsection of the course.

Crew fitness, strength and endurance would now be key over the last two kilometres as Bridgnorth/Stratford continued to pull slowly away and increase the gap on Grosvenor who themselves now came under pressure from Royal Chester who put in a significant surge to close on both Grosvenor and Bridgnorth/Stratford crews.

However, Bridgnorth/Stratford were able to lift their boat speed and rating to 34 strokes per minute coming into the final one kilometre of the race to win in an excellent time of 21 minutes and 40 seconds with Royal Chester in second place in a time of 22 minutes 22 seconds with Grosvenor third in a time of 22 minutes 37 seconds. This winning time was also good enough to beat the eights crews from Warrington, Trafford and Pengwern racing in the younger age division event.

Said Tim Grimsdale, crew captain for the Bridgenorth/Stratford boat, “We came to Runcorn looking for an improved performance after good wins at Stourbridge and Worcester. We knew we would be up against tougher opposition and so to come away with a win against much fancied crews from Grosvenor and Chester gives us the improved performance for which we were looking. With an overall fourth fastest time of the day out of all competing crews in the morning and afternoon divisions, the crew could be pleased with their performance. With three wins in three races, the crew’s focus now turns to the North of England Head in two weeks’ time and their final preparatory race against tougher opposition.”

For media coverage, see Stratford Herald online https://www.stratford-herald.com/sport/fourth-fastest-time-as-stratford-prepare-for-international-m-9301215 and page forty five and Stratford Observer online https://www.stratfordobserver.co.uk/sport/rowing-boat-clubs-composite-eight-win-on-the-weaver

Choppy Thames Conditions for Vesta International Eights Head!

Stratford upon Avon Boat Club were represented at this year’s Vesta International Eights Head of The River race on Sunday. The race, which is the premier veterans’ rowing event of the year, is held over the championship course which is better known as the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race course in central London on the Thames. On a clear but blustery day, over 245 crews set off from Mortlake for the 6.8km timed race down to Putney at ten second intervals making for some exciting racing over the whole length of the course.

Stratford upon Avon Boat Club provided the majority share of a composite crew with fellow Midland clubs from Warwick Boat Club and Bridgnorth Rowing Club. The crew, stroked by Paul Wallis from Bridgnorth, comprised Tom Doherty (Stratford) at 7, Richard Nelson (Stratford) at 6, Rob Graham (Bridgnorth) at 5, Tim Grimsdale (Bridgnorth) at 4, Gary Clay (Stratford) at 3, Jon Martin (Warwick) at 2 and Simon Beard (Stratford) at bow with Sarah Graham (Bridgnorth) at cox.

The crew racing in the Masters’ E age category section (55 to 60 years) were up against formidable competition with no less than 34 competitors in their age group. The crew, on the back of a much improved showing at the North of England Head at Chester the week before, got off to a fast start taking the rating up to 34 strokes per minute under Chiswick Bridge as they crossed the start with Bewdley and an international Danish crew starting close behind.

A solid rating push off the start saw the crew opening a significant gap on the two immediate crews behind as they approached Barnes Bridge. Tricky winds saw the Tideway live up to its reputation as a tough place to row with some large waves leaving most of the crew and the cox soaked. However, not to be deterred, the crew settled in to a good rhythm maintaining 32 strokes per minute for the whole of the remainder of the 6.8km course. This paid dividends as they proceeded to catch a Broxbourne eight by Chiswick Eyot which lead to some lively advice on the merits of considerate steering being exchanged between the crews!

With over half the race completed and the crew going well, a big push saw the crew clear Hammersmith Bridge and its legendary rough water and they proceeded to catch a number of crews as the final few kilometers beaconed. This lead to some exciting racing as the Stratford composite crew closed past Fulham football ground on no less than four crews all line abreast across the river. Holding their own and with some excellent coxing from Sarah Graham, the crew pushed between Putney Town, Ardingley, Grosvenor and Bradford on Avon clubs to inch over the finish line in front providing good excitement for the crowds of spectators.

Hard racing over the whole course in blustery conditions saw the crew record a time of 22 minutes and 7 seconds finishing thirteenth out of 35 crews in their Masters E event and  107 seconds behind Moseley, the fastest crew of the day and overall 63rd out of 245 crews that finished the event.

Said Tom Doherty Stratford’s Masters Vice Captain, “This was a crew put together in mid-January that has been limited to one training session a week: the crew has shown consistent improvement over the weeks from a poor race at Nottingham to record a very good result with our best row to date in tricky conditions on the Thames, something of which we can be all proud!”

For media coverage, please see Stratford Herald page 15 and online http://www.stratford-herald.com/97340-stratford-rowers-face-choppy-thames-conditions-vesta-international.html and Stratford Observer online https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/sport/choppy-thames-conditions-for-vesta-international-eights-head