Last Saturday (06 May) a small contingent from Stratford upon Avon Boat Club travelled to Shropshire to compete in Pengwern Boat Club’s annual Shrewsbury Regatta. Racing on the River Severn over 1000 metres Emily Barratt and Christine Goodwin competing in Women’s Novice Double Sculls raced well and smoothly but were just overhauled by a crew from North Staffordshire Rowing Club. Jane Connolly, rowing at the Masters level in her single scull, demonstrated super sculling skills but in the end was narrowly defeated by a lady from Burton Leander Rowing Club.

Autumn Keil raced an athlete from Trent Rowing Club in the WJ15 Single Sculls. After a fascinating and very brave tussle over most of the course, Trent only just defeated Stratford. The WJ15 coxed quadruple sculling crew of Katie Philips, Katie Wellstead, Khloe Curnock and Emily Browne expertly coxed by Matilda Watts sculled superbly over three races beating convincingly The Grange School (Northwich), Stourport Boat Club and then Monmouth Comprehensive School to win the event.

For media coverage, see The Stratford Herald p15 and online http://www.stratford-herald.com/70462-stratfords-junior-rowers-taste-success-shrewsbury-regatta.html: also see Stratford Observer back page and online https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/sport/juniors-win-at-shrewsbury

To see more great pictures from Shrewsbury, see David Phillips’ excellent selection at https://www.flickr.com/photos/135872444@N08/albums/72157680314615864/with/34371152831

Stratford upon Avon Boat Club Juniors competed over the weekend 29th and 30th April at near neighbours Evesham Rowing Club’s regatta. On Saturday, over a one kilometre course against the stream, crews competed from dawn till dusk with Stratford enjoying another successful day. Stratford’s WJ18 coxless quad followed up recent success at Abingdon with another winners’ pot following two closely fought rows against hosts Evesham in the semi final and Bryanston School from Dorset in the final. The Stratford crew members were Theo Mordaunt, Maddie Griffiths, Claire Teakle and Sofia Ward. 

Stratford’s J14 squad was also out in force with some tough competition in both double sculls and coxed quadruple scull events. In double sculls, Mili Wilcock and Maiya James performed well but eventually lost out to City Of Oxford whilst Jasmine Mountney and Alice Baines progressed through to the semifinals losing out to the eventual winners. In the open double sculls event, Fred Tyler and Max Griffiths also progressed to the semifinals but were overhauled by a heavier crew from City of Bristol. In coxed quadruple sculls, the women’s crew of Jasmine Mountney, Mya Kenny, Nixie Brunt, Alice Baines and Naomi Sergeant (cox) dominated the first round against Hinksey Sculling School but after a superb race, went out to the finalists in the next round.

Sunday saw Stratford competing again in the Sprint Regatta over a shorter five hundred metre course, this time with the stream. Fred Tyler collected a well earned pot winning the J14 open sculling event. After comfortable wins in his first round race and semi final against Llandaff and City of Bristol scullers respectively, Fred then produced a row of the highest quality in the final against his opponent from Stourport, winning by just half of one length. Alice Baines came up against stiff competition from City of Oxford in the WJ14 single scull category losing out by just half a length in a close finish and Sarah Wells, rowing in her first competitive regatta, gave a good account in the same event against another strong opponent from Ross on Wye.

Said Junior Co-ordinator Steve Wellstead, “Making their regatta debut at this event were the youngest members of Stratford Boat Club, the J13 squad. In the morning division two coxed quadruple sculls produced spirited rows both losing out by just a few lengths to Evesham and City of Bristol respectively. We are very proud of the progress they have made in such a short rowing career.” Stratford’s boats were crewed by Elisabeth Edwards, Julia Gurden, Emma Harrison, Abbey Meggeson and cox Conar Aitchison and Amelie Sartain, Martha Usselmann, Harriet Hodgson, Sienna Rawlings and cox Mary Walton.

In the afternoon division, a mixed crew of Harriet Hodgson and William Clarke tasted success in their first race against Ross on Wye in the open J13 double sculls event before being eliminated in the semi final by a crew from Hereford. Martha Usselmann and Mary Walton, rowing up an age group, produced a good row in the WJ14 double sculls category losing out to Evesham and Amelie Sartain and Sienna Rawlings narrowly lost out to a crew from Ross on Wye in the WJ13 double sculls.

Coach Mark Holden commented, “Meanwhile, former Stratford juniors were enjoying success on the water at the BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport) regatta held over the same weekend in Nottingham. Franklin Hamilton, representing Reading University, collected bronze in the Men’s Lightweight double sculls and gold in the Men’s Lightweight quad. Peter Boyes, representing Nottingham University, finished fifth overall in the Men’s coxless four event. Imogen North, also representing Nottingham University, enjoyed success across all three days of the event winning a silver medal in the Women’s Lightweight double sculls on Saturday, gold in the Women’s Lightweight coxless Four on Sunday and a second gold medal in the Women’s Lightweight quad on Monday. Franklin and Imogen will be hoping to go on to compete at the European Universities Championships in Subotica, Serbia in July.”

For media coverage, please see Stratford Herald p15 and online at http://www.stratford-herald.com/69989-stratfords-junior-rowers-shine-evesham.html and Stratford Observer back page and  https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/sport/juniors-are-excellent-in-evesham

For more photographs of Evesham Rowing Club’s regatta, please see Stuart Baines’ excellent selection at https://1drv.ms/f/s!AgY7EiDB2lCO7iHWyLvl_BXI80-G

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 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 1^st 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 2^nd 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

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

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.

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.