Stratford upon Avon Boat Club Masters coxed four crew won the Open Coxed Fours event at Wycliffe Big Head of the River Race on last 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…

Stratford upon Avon Boat Club Masters squad sent a strong team to Northampton to start off 2017 racing season including a large number of development rowers experiencing their first taste of competition rowing.

Early starters in Division One battling with a very cold and foggy course saw good competition in a number of events.

First off on the day for Stratford Boat Club was the Men’s Masters squad of Charlie Evans, Tom Doherty, Richard Shepphard and Simon Beard, rowing up status at IM1 level in a coxless four. After a frenetic start, the crew settled into a high tempo race at 37 strokes per minute which they maintained for the whole race to finish in a time of 6 minutes 32 seconds. This would have been significantly faster except for an unfortunate collision close to the end of the course which cost the crew some time forcing them to settle for second place to Northampton University who finished 40 seconds clear in the fastest time of the day.

Also braving the cold conditions in the morning division was Mike Adkins who resumed his competition with fellow club member and training partner Chris Straw who was racing later in the day in Masters F single sculls. Unfortunately both Stratford scullers had to settle for minor places behind Granta and Hollywell clubs with Mike taking club bragging rights from Chris in a time of 9 minutes 14 seconds.

The morning division also saw the debut of a mixed Masters’ novice four with Richard Anderson, Richard Field, Linn Hanson and Dave Edwards. On their first ever race, the crew which has been training for several months, put in a sterling performance against a strong field from Northampton and sister club King Edward Sixth Grammar School to finish in a time of 7 minutes and 53 seconds.

Also debuting in his first sculling race was Tim Lunel in Masters D single sculls. Racing in a high quality field, Tim was not overawed by some quality opposition to finish a creditable third in 7 minutes 24 seconds, only 6 seconds behind high quality Rudkin of Hollowell Scullers.

Stratford ladies were not to be outdone despite the conditions with club mates Lucy Rouse and Christine Goodwin going head to head in Women’s novice sculls. With Swindon Rowing Club playing a supporting role Christine recorded her first ever win for Stratford in a time of 8 minutes and 33 second and her first win over her club mate Lucy. Christine said, “A massive credit to Helen Smith as my coach – I am only here due to her encouragement and help all the way!”

With weather conditions improving and the fog lifting racing became more competitive in the midday divisions with Stratford Masters’ D coxed four of Charlie Evans, Tom Doherty, Richard Sheppherd and Simon Beard, expertly coxed by Becky Stokes recording an event win over Derwent in a time of 6 minutes and 33 seconds.

The debutant Novice four were back in action in the midday divisions with Lin Hanson making way for Mike Cordner making his racing debut with Richard Anderson, Richard Field, and Dave Edwards racing up status in IM3 coxed fours finishing second to an experienced Oundle crew in a time of 8 minutes and 15 seconds.

Stratford’s Mixed Masters E double scull of Kjersti Woolley and Tom Doherty were unable to do the double over a much fancied Derwent crew and were pipped to second place by 3 seconds by Milton Keynes. In the same event the Stratford second boat of Phil Marshall and Gina Fusco put in a very creditable performance for Gina’s first competitive race for the club.

Next it was the turn of Helen Smith to make her racing debut, this time as a cox in the mixed coxed four event with Charlie Edwards, Mike Cordiner, Harriet Smith, and Sian Maher. The crew racing for the first time with event debutant Mike Cordner in the engine room recorded a well deserved win over fancied Oundle Town in a time of 7 minutes and 16 seconds.

Finally the Masters’ squad rounded off an excellent days racing with Tim Lunell and Tom Doherty winning the Masters’ E double sculls event in a time of 6 minutes and.50 seconds over crews from Oundle, Derwent, and Hollowell.

Said Tom Doherty Masters Vice Captain, “What was so pleasing was to see so many debutants racing in Stratford colours for the first time, acquitting themselves so well and really enjoying the experience.”

Stratford’s Women’s Masters also did well in their E/F category sculling race.

Said Steve Wellstead, Junior Co-ordinator, “Stratford upon Avon Boat Club’s junior section braved the cold weather to compete at the Head of the Nene held over 1800m in Northampton. Race wins were in plentiful supply across the age groups.”

The Junior 17/18 squad of Libby Dwyer, Lara Davies, Maddie Griffiths, Lauren Willis, Theodora Mordaunt, Claire Teakle, Sofia Ward, Isobel Marsden, Eleanor Gray, Madeline Winsper and Robin Connolly triumphed in Novice, IM3, J16 and J18 categories in their coxless quadruple scull and coxed fours.

In the J15 age group Joe Hodson sculled masterfully to a win in his single scull and then went on to notch up a further victory in the double sculls event with Fred Tyler.

The J14 squad added to the trophy haul with wins for Mili Wilcock and Daniel Cox in their single sculls. The coxed quadruple scull of Jasmine Mountney, Mya Kenny, Nixie Brunt, Alice Baines and Simran Gill (cox) produced a superb performance to not only win their event but also beat all crews in the next age group. Victory in the double sculls category went to Max Griffiths and Dan Cox in the boy’s event and Jasmine Mountney and Alice Baines in the women’s event to round off a fantastic day’s racing.

With outstanding performances across the board in Junior, Senior and Master’s events the club also secured the Victor Ludorum trophy as the most successful club at the event. A truly marvellous way to start the year’s competition!”

See also Stratford Herald p17 and Stratford Observer online http://bit.ly/2k52rDm. For more pictures, please click onto https://1drv.ms/f/s!AgY7EiDB2lCOy0NtDQSaZZ7A2l0t

The racing provided great interest to early morning sightseers and visitors watching from the Recreation Ground, The Royal Shakespeare Terrace, Bancroft Gardens and The Tramway Bridge. Said Emma Wellstead, fundraiser for Stratford Boat Club, “The scratch regatta caught the imagination of all who came down to the river and we hope that it will give added impetus to fundraising in 2017 to achieve funds to bring sport to all in the area”

Stratford upon Avon Boat Club will be back on the river this week and after the New Year training hard for the 2017 head season and their own regatta in June

See also Stratford Herald p21 and online at http://www.stratford-herald.com/63666-rowers-force-boxing-d…

The Women’s 4+ (Victoria Ward, Victoria Brennan, Abigail Smith, Gabrielle Walker and cox Shruti Chaudry) from Stratford earned gold and bronze medals in the Novice and Senior Women’s events respectively. Gold winners in the girls’ J16 4+ and silver in the 4x- were Lara Davis, Ellie Gray, Issy Marsden, Maddy Winsper coxed by Robin Connolly and Maddy Winsper, Lauren Willis, Libby Dwyer and Maddie Griffiths respectively whilst the J15 girls, Emily Browne and Autumn Keil, were gold and bronze medalists in their single sculls event

A great performance by the Women’s Novice 4x- (Theo Mordaunt, Clare Teakle, Sofia Ward and Maddie Griffiths) delivered a silver medal whilst other bronze medal winners were Joseph Hodson (J15 1x) and Gracie Mitchell with Emily Browne in the girls’ J15 2x.
Although not medaling at this event, there were huge performances and commitment from Maiya James, Mya Kenny, Nixie Brunt, Jasmine Mountney and Sophie Neville in the WJ14 4x+, Dan Cox and Max Griffiths in J14 2x and Gracie Mitchell, Katie Philips, Jess Wiesheu, Katie Wellstead and Mimi Hill in WJ15 4x+. Also worthy of note was the J15 2x of Fred Tyler (rowing up a year) to partner Joe Hodson and sixteen year old Lara Davies racing against eighteen year olds in the single sculls

For media coverage, please see Stratford Herald p14 and on line at Medals galore for Stratford rowers and Stratford Observer back page and on line at https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/…/stratford-medals-aplenty-…

Stratford upon Avon Boat Club Masters’ squads descended on local club Evesham for one of the last head races of the pre Christmas season on Saturday for Masters of the Avon & Evesham Senior Head.

Held on a cold but otherwise perfect day for rowing, the event was run over two divisions with the morning division of four kilometer length of the River Avon attracting a Masters D/E (average age 55), coxed four of Jen Cary (cox), Simon Skillings, Glyn Hawkins, Tim Lunel, and Wallace Brown. After a steady start the crew, marshalled expertly by Jen Cary, powered away from their local opponents Evesham to win their event in a time of 18 minutes and 34 seconds, beating Evesham by 45 seconds.

Following them closely down the course was the Mixed masters E (average age 55 years) double scull of Kjersti Woolley and Thomas Doherty. Competing against a high quality Derwent crew, they completed the course in a creditable 19 minutes and 47 seconds but had to settle for second place.

In the afternoon division, raced over a shorter two kilometer course, the masters F/G (average age 60 to 65 years) Men’s double scull was an all family affair with the Moore brothers, Joe and Simon, taking on local crews from Evesham and Bewdley. Rowing a tidy race the brothers completed the course in 11 minutes and 3 seconds to finish in second place.

The next Stratford racing crews saw a head to head between single scullers Mike Atkins and Chris Straw in Masters E/G division ( average age 55 to 65). In a competitive field Mike Atkins came a well deserved second in a time of 11minutes and 15 seconds just beating training partner Chris Straw by only three seconds to secure bragging rights!

Hot on their heels and not to be outdone by the men, came Kjersti Woolley having recovered from her morning exploits and now in a single scull to record a very good time of 12 minutes and 11 seconds.

Said Tom Doherty, Masters’ Vice Captain, “It was great to see so many of the Masters’ squad competing across a range of events: with more crews in training we hope to have additional crews competing across the region at events in the New Year.”

Following on their amazing season’s success and having only been rowing for slightly over a year, Stratford’s Explore rowing section was invited to enter a crew into the Women’s Primary 4+ event in Division 2 to provide some friendly competition for a Bewdley crew. Definitely up for the challenge but last of the day to set off, the Stratford crew of Rosie Stone, Clare Booth, Rona Fitzpatrick and Becky Smith nevertheless strode out well over the start line and increased their rating to catch up and overtake the Bewdley crew by the half way mark, maintaining a good lead for the rest of the course and finishing just under two minutes ahead. Said Rosie Stone, the Explore section organiser, “The Stratford Explore crew gave a stylish performance throughout much aided and encouraged by cox Esme Booth who did a sterling job of motivating and keeping the crew together! Thanks as always go to our great coaches who provided enthusiastic support and advice whilst training and on the day.”

For media coverage, please see Stratford Herald p16 and online http://www.stratford-herald.com/62377-stratfords-rowers-exc… and Stratford Observer p30 and online https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/…/stratford-masters-excel-a…

The event, held at Stratford upon Avon Boat Club, saw beginner crews from around the West Midlands competing for the overall honours and the end of the seven event series and it was the home club who came out on top!

Stratford’s A and C crews claimed four wins to finish ahead of Bewdley in the overall standings in the series which started back in May.

“All that hard work pulled off! We put on a really good event and everyone who attended seemed to be enjoying themselves – which is what it’s all about after all! Great stuff and a fitting finale to the Explore Regatta 2016 season,” said Rosie Stone of Stratford upon Avon Boat Club.

It wasn’t all plain sailing on the water, however, with one of the Ironbridge Rowing Club boats going a bit off course and into the path of another vessel, but even that mishap wasn’t enough to diminish the smiles on the faces of those taking part throughout the day.

British Rowing’s Explore Rowing Programme started as part of the 2009-2013 Whole Sport Plan since when more than 10,000 people have tried the sport. Explore Rowing clubs are making new links with their local communities with rowers finding fun and more flexible ways to enjoy rowing.

If any clubs are interested in attending or hosting a round of the West Midlands Explore Series next year, email British Rowing’s area manager Jo Atkinson (jo.atkinson@britishrowing.org), contact her on Twitter (@JoAtkinsonBR) or call 07818 576147.

Article courtesy of British Rowing: https://www.britishrowing.org/…/stratford-take-the-glory-in…

The phenomenal Stratford performance of the day was Jessica Wiesheu and Emily Browne who took the bronze medal in the girls’ double sculls finishing thirteen seconds behind the winners and beating crews from many famous girls’ rowing schools including those who row regularly on the River Thames.

See also Stratford Herald p20 and Stratford Observer p37.

Stratford upon Avon Boat Club senior crews took the long road to London last weekend for the Fullers Head of the River Fours held on Saturday. The national event, which attracts the best crews from all over the UK, is raced over the University Boat Race course in reverse, starting at Chiswick and finishing at Putney, a distance of over six kilometers on the river Thames (The Tideway) through London.

The event, which is only open to crews of a certain standard, requires a minimum of four sculling points and six sweep points at IM2 senior level for each crew. This ensures a very high standard of competition across all events. The weather for the race was continual rain which made for a damp but otherwise flat course, a somewhat unusual condition for Tideway racing which is known for its choppy conditions.

Stratford upon Avon’s attempt to field four racing crews at this weekend’s event found efforts struck down by illness which saw their much fancied quad four withdraw before the race. This was followed on the day by their number two coxed four crew having to abandon the race on arrival in London due to another outbreak of crew illness. With two crews withdrawn, the remaining crews focused on their race preparations only to suffer another crew member having to withdraw just before the race due to a family incident. Fortunately a ready substitute was on hand in the person of Ed Lewry who was able to jump into the boat and save the day.
With fifty percent of their entries gone before the race, the remaining Stratford crews took to the water in a great visual spectacle of rowing with some four hundred boats on the Thames in wet but otherwise good rowing conditions. Stratford’s first boat, the remaining coxed four of Alistair Collier, Ben Twiney, Tom Coles and substitute Ed Lewry, racing in IM1 coxed four put in an extremely powerful performance to finish in a time of twenty minutes and forty seconds and an overall finish position of two hundred and two. This strong mid position finish in their event meant that they beat a number of local experienced Tideway clubs in the process. Said Dr Ben Twiney, Senior Men’s Vice Captain, “This was a very pleasing performance from the crew considering the disruption just before the race. Credit must go to Ed Lewry who jumped into the crew at the last minute and put in a superb row.“

Stratford’s remaining crew racing in IM1 coxless fours had, unusually for them, less stressful day getting to the race. Competing in a large field of thirty six crews in their event, the crew of Richard Nelson, Tim Lunel, Charlie Evans, and Tom Doherty, had originally been due to race in the Masters’ event on Sunday but were unable to secure an entry.

The crew with an average age over fifty and one of the oldest crew entrants in the whole event found themselves up against crews of almost half their age. However not to be outdone by the opposition, the crew put in a hard race for the whole of the event racing neck and neck with a City of Oxford crew for two kilometers to finish in a time of twenty one minutes and thirty six seconds for an overall finish position of two hundred and sixty three out of four hundred and thirty racing crews. Said Tom Doherty, Masters’ Vice Captain, “We were always going to be up against stiff opposition racing much younger and fitter crews but we were determined to put in a good show despite limited practice beforehand and are pleased to have beaten some of our IM1 event opposition and a large number of IM2 crews. Credit is also due to the sterling support team of Shan Stokes ,Becky Stokes and Ben Smith who, despite the disappointment of not competing, gave the racing crews immense support on the day without which we couldn’t have raced.“

Meanwhile, back at Stratford, the Club observed a two minutes’ silence on Remembrance Sunday to honour those who fell in the World Wars and other conflicts. Nineteen names on the Club’s memorial who died in the Battle of the Somme were read out and the Club’s thoughts were led by the Club’s President, Paul Stanton. Wreaths were laid by the Club’s youngest member William Clarke and Peter Wyatt, the oldest member: seventy five years separate their rowing experience!

For media coverage, see Stratford Herald p16 and p14 and Stratford Observer p38 and online https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/…/success-and-disappointmen…

Stratford upon Avon Boat Club’s head racing season campaign continued on Saturday with Henley Long Distance Sculls Head of the River Race. Held over three kilometers on the River Thames, this head race is always a high quality and popular event: this year being no different with a record six hundred strong entry list and high profile competitors such as Olympian James Cracknell OBE joining the fray

Stratford’s entries came from Senior, Masters and Junior sections with strong sculling performances in plentiful supply across the board. Notable highlights were second place for the Women’s Junior 15 double scull of Emily Browne and Katie Wellstead (recording a faster time than most of the Junior 16 crews on the day) and Fred Tyler in the Junior 14 single scull category with a commanding performance to achieve an excellent third place

Elsewhere amongst the Stratford athletes, the Junior 15 single scullers of Joe Hodson, Jess Wiesheu and Khloe Curnock battled hard in a competitive class. The Junior 15 coxed quadruple scull (Molly Gill-Swift, Gracie Mitchell, Autumn Keil, Katie Phillips and Mimi Hill) and Junior 14 coxed quadruple scull (Mya Kenny, Mili Wilcock, Maiya James, Alice Baines and Sophie Neville) pushed hard and there were plucky performances from Lucy Rouse (Novice single scull) and Christine Goodwin (Masters single scull) against tough competition showing promise for future events

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Stratford upon Avon’s Seniors continued their winter head racing season with a trip to local Midlands club Stourport for their small boats head race. The event, raced over two four kilometer divisions in windy but otherwise good conditions, offered some challenging racing throughout the day. First off in the morning division in cold but beautiful conditions for Stratford upon Avon was Kjersti Woolley and Thomas Doherty in Mixed Masters E double sculls. In their first event since competing at the World Masters Club Championships in Copenhagen in September, they rowed down the four kilometer course rating a powerful thirty strokes per minute in a tough encounter with IM2 double scullers from Loughborough, managing to keep them at bay for the whole course to record a time of 15 minutes and 20 seconds which proved fast enough to win their event giving Kjersti Woolley her first victory for Stratford

Not to be outdone, Stratford’s Explore rowing section comprising Nils Purser, Rona Fitzpatrick, Andrea Duxbury and Rosie Stone took on local club Stourport over the full four kilometer course in their first taste of fully competition racing after their wins at the British Rowing’s West Midland Explore Regatta at Stratford last weekend. Getting off to a fast start, the crew strode out to gradually to overhaul Stourport and by the three quarter mark at the Stourport boathouse had established a lead of some five lengths. Despite fatigue creeping in, the crew kept their technique to maintain their lead all the way to the finish in a very good time of 19 minutes

Said a delighted Nils Purser, Stratford’s Explore crew organiser, “This was our first foray into full long distance head racing in our Explore class boats and, despite it being a big challenge, we were exceptionally pleased to be able to maintain our discipline and record a first win at this level. We have now got the racing bug and are looking forward to many more exciting races!”

See also Stratford Herald online http://bit.ly/2foAuBq and p17 and Stratford Obsever online http://bit.ly/2f0aDPw and p30

See also David Phillip’s great pictures of Henley Long Distance Sculls Head of the River Race https://www.flickr.com/…/sets/721576747293…/with/30165774314 and https://www.flickr.com/…/135872444@N…/sets/72157674729386951