Kate Burt, Chief Executive Officer of British Rowing, the sport’s national governing body, and Jo Atkinson, Regional Development Officer, visited us on Wednesday 23 October to meet our members and discuss our plans for the future. Read more.

Jane Hadland, Helen Smith, Rachel Key, Kate Burt, Felix Badcock, Jo Atkinson and Glyn Hawkins (Left to Right)

Kate Burt, Chief Executive Officer of British Rowing, the sport’s national governing body, and Jo Atkinson, Regional Development Officer, visited the Club on Wednesday 23 October during a tour of West Midlands’ Clubs.

“It was great for our Explore Rowing members to have a chance to talk to British Rowing’s CEO,” said Glyn Hawkins, the Club’s Masters’ Vice Captain. “Nationally the aim is help more people to row, including on the river during the week and indoors, just what we are doing here in Stratford”.

“Building capacity to meet the huge interest in rowing is a national issue as well as being the reason behind our redevelopment plans,” said Felix Badcock, the Club’s President. “In the under 16s, the greatest increase has been with girls. In the West Midlands more Juniors and Seniors take part in competitions than the national average. We know that the demand is there, if only we had the space.”

The group also discussed the perception of rowing as a sport for the wealthy but as the parent of one Junior Member said “At less than £5 a week for three training sessions, it is really affordable and offers lots of other benefits as well as becoming seriously fit!”

In terms of access, indoor rowing opens up the sport for people with limited time. Kate described how mobile technology was being used to take this “beyond the gym” so that athletes could compete against rowers across the globe.

Glyn Hawkins shows Kate Burt designs for the new boathouse

After Kate had seen the designs for the new boathouse they discussed how the Club was approaching the task of raising £500k. With considerable fundraising experience and local knowledge between them, Kate and Jo’s support will be invaluable to the project’s success. If you would like to know more about the appeal please email us.

J16 Imogen North with coach Mark Holden

Thanks to their talent and our hardworking volunteer coaches, our Junior Squad is going from strength to strength.

Andy Roe returns as Head Coach

We are delighted to welcome back Andrew Roe as Head Coach after his temporary assignment with British Rowing, the sport’s governing body.

“Andrew will lead our growing team of volunteer coaches, helping them to fully develop the talent of rowers at all levels. More experienced coaches means that we can welcome more members, including those returning to rowing.” says Jen Clements, Stratford Boat Club’s Captain. “

Andrew also co-ordinates the Explore Rowing courses which run throughout year, a five week scheme that gives adults the chance to try rowing for the first time. It can be addictive as many “graduates” of the scheme have found. Andrew is also supporting our new Performance programme specifically designed for rowers who want to compete at the highest level.

Read more in the Stratford Herald and Stratford Observer.

Division 1 (Times in brackets under handicap system)

J17A 2x Harry Stirling and … 15:33  (13.43) Winner

WJ15A 2x Lamorna Jarvis and … 18:10 (14:20) Winner

J15A 2x Max Beishon and … 18:15 (15:45)

MasA NOV1x Emily Brooks 18:49 (16:09)

MasA NOV1x Harry Stirling 19:13 (16:33)

WJ18 2x Gabriella Clack and … 19:52 (16:42)

WJ14 1x Georgina Cherry 20:40 (15:00) Winner

MasA NOV1x Scott 24.09 (21:29)

Division 2

J18 2x Harry Stirling and … 15:39 (13:39)

WJ14 4x+ SofiaWard, Claire Teakle, Olivia Hansen, Theo Mordaunt and cox Becky Stokes 18:31 (14:11) Winner

WJ14 4x+ Camelia Assadian, Jasmine Key, Lois Battersby, Robin Connolly and cox Conrad Bird 20:00 (15:40)

WJ15 1x Esme Booth 19:01 (15:31)

WJ15 1x Rhianna Ngombe 19:34 (14:24)

WJ15 1x Rachel Stratton 19:52 (14:42)

Be part of a fabulous team that keeps our rowers safe on the water. Much easier to learn than you might think….find out more.

Wins

WJ15 2x Junior Women Double Scull – Won by 1 1/4 lengths by Esme Booth and Rachel Stratton vs Ross.

WJ15 4x+ Junior Women Quad – all SuABC final – Won by a length and 3/4 by Rachel Stratton, Rianna Ngombe, Ellie Whitehead, Lamorna Jarvis and cox Becky Stokes vs Milly Flambert, Jessica Cann, Grace Harkin, Laura Tiller and cox Jasmine Key.

WJ16 1x Junior Women’s (16 yrs) Single Scull – Won by 3 lengths by Phoebe Winter  vs Worcester.

Mx IM2 2x Mixed Intermediate Double – Won by 2 1/2 lengths Imogen North and Ed Lewry competing together for the first time vs Hereford.

Mx IM2 4+ Mixed Four – all SuABC final – Won by 3/4 length by Simon Picken, Ollie Smith, Maddie Gardner, Grace Lodge and cox Conrad Bird vs Cassie Bird, Georgia Holden, Peter Simmons, Joshua Danks-Smith and cox Becky Stokes.

The eight members of our intrepid Explore Rowing Touring Crew took a hugely disrespectful three hours and fourteen minutes to row the twenty one miles of the Great River Race course on Sunday 15 September.

“We were rowing a very heavy Cornish Pilot Gig and I think spending the night before in the pub lent a certain relaxed style to our performance on the day!  It is probably fair to say we had a troubled race with at least four collisions on the way to the start line and five other collisions during the race itself, only one of which was our fault!  We swerved to miss a boat full of Danish pixies in smurf hats and locked oars with a crew who were dressed as Irish leprechauns: it was all a bit surreal!”

said Ray Coyte, Explore Rowing Recreational Crew Captain.

SuABC Explore Rowing Touring Crew
in The Great River Race

The crew (Stephen Rose, Richard Nelson, Ian Scott, Lorraine Mackey, Linda Casement, Ruth Winter, Tom Doherty and Ray himself) enjoyed waving to the twenty thousand spectators or so who watched the race from the bridges of London: rowing seems to have taken a bit of a backseat!

Glyn Hawkins, Stratford’s Masters’ Vice Captain, who had been training the team throughout the summer for the race was very proud of them.

Next year they plan to row the Vogalonga [‘long row’] 30km race in Venice, do another Channel crossing to France (thirty two miles) and see if they can maintain their Great River Race triumph! If you are interested in this type of madness, sorry fun, and building your stamina and fitness, please do Contact Us to find out more.

Camilla Hadland (2nd from the left), Club member and President of Durham University Boat Club, won gold in a coxless four at the 8th European University Sports Association Rowing Championship in Poznan, Poland on 14/15 September. If you rowed at university and want to start again, why not join SuABC?