Although the wait of a year seemed a long time, all the expectations of the Fun Regatta were met and even bettered! The Fun Regatta attracted competitors from local companies, villages and groups of friends and twenty crews with just three hours’ training produced some quality rowing, ably coxed by skilled members of Stratford Boat Club’s junior squad and watched by crowds and friends from the Club’s grounds, the Bancroft Gardens and the Rec, Fun Regatta organiser Adam Franklin said, “We were heartened by the huge numbers who came to watch, cheer the competitors on and enjoy the spectacle even though the weather was hotter than ideal: it may not have been
Henley Royal Regatta but we like to think that it was more fun to watch!”
Fancy dress was again a major part of the day, with crews dressed in multi coloured outfits, Britney Spears look a likes – One M’oar Time; nuns and bishops – White Smoke; red and white striped blazers and boaters – May The Oars Be With You; Ninjas in black and white and a troop of Jedi warriors! There were also crews made up from local companies and organisations such as Simplify IT, Stratford Ladies Netball Team and a squad from Stratford upon Avon Rugby Club
Commenting further, Adam Franklin Fun Regatta organiser added, “Through the hard work and all the efforts of Club members, we have been able to raise funds for replacing equipment, repairs and maintenance. As always, we are especially grateful for the tolerance of those who make their living on the river and to our sponsor Crowne Plaza Stratford.”
Dawson Curnock, Boat Club Chairman also commented, “The wait was worth it! A fun day was had by all and Stratford Boat Club was happy to contribute
to the vitality and atmosphere of the town and give visitors and residents a cause for celebration! We were so grateful that Stratford upon Avon’s Mayor Cllr Dani Hunter and her daughter visited us and presented prizes to the winners: Stratford upon Avon Town Council’s support is essential for the encouragement for sport and recreation in the Warwickshire area and community.”
Whilst the Club members were running the Fun Regatta, the Club’s masters’ squad were competing in a fantastic two days of racing at Henley Masters Regatta. Held on the iconic Henley Royal Regatta course, the event attracts crews from all over the world competing with the best national crews for a chance to race 
between the booms.
A bye in the first round saw Stratford’s Mx4x race against Trafford in the quarter final. A strong start ably stroked by Rebecca England saw Stratford racing at thirty six strokes per minute ease out to a two length lead by the 300 metre mark and by halfway had stretched this lead to three lengths. With the race under control, Stratford were able to ease back on the power and finish comfortable winners by three lengths.
Significantly sterner opposition awaited Stratford in the semifinal with World
and National Championship medallists Warwick Rowing Club. A strong start with Rebecca leading the crew off at forty strokes per minute and a high tempo race pace of thirty six strokes per minute saw the crews neck and neck at the 300 metre barrier. Warwick, knowing they were in a race, began to increase their effort but excellent steering by Jeanette Caldicott, fresh from her excellent win on Saturday, and a big effort by Pete Spivey and Tom Doherty in the engine room kept Stratford in touch out to the 600 metre mark. Warwick’s superior size and strength saw them increase their lead towards the end of the race 
running out winners by just over a length.
Said crew member Pete Spivey, “Rebecca and Jeanette with their excellent race control and steering gave us a great platform for two excellent races. Given our limited training opportunities beforehand we can be very satisfied.”
Saturday also saw Stratford’s J17 pair of Xavier Sissins-Roffey and Seth Vondrak race in Band One of the open pairs category at Burton regatta. The
crew took a win in their first round by two lengths against an adult composite from Derwent and Trentham, leading the whole way after a strong start. They then went on to win the final against a Derby crew easily, giving them a solid practice race and a good result the week before racing at the British Rowing Championships.
Meanwhile, Curtis Dickens, the pararower from Stratford’s adaptive squad, followed up his recent GB appearance at the Rowing World Cup in Italy with victory at the trials for the England squad. He will represent his country in two weeks’ time at Dorney Lake, the venue of the 2012 Olympic rowing 
international competition, in the Home Internationals.
Curtis’ adaptive colleagues raced in Cardiff this weekend where Stratford’s adaptive squad won all their races which is in line with their results elsewhere this season. Edward Owen-Smith, a recent thirteen year old adaptive recruit, won in his single and also in a double with buddy rower Aron Altman. Stratford’s Gillian Middleton won comfortably in the women’s double event partnered by a Llandaff rower. The best race of the day involved Paola and
Ian Ward who had a titanic struggle with the mixed double crew from Ross with the Wards eventually winning by a length and half. Jake Blatcher had tough draws in the mainstream singles events each day.
Commenting, Mark Dewdney, Stratford Boat Club’s Head Adaptive Coach, said, “Jake continues to be very competitive but just coming up short: a win must be surely just around the corner!”
Stratford’s junior squads were back on the water on Sunday after coxing at the Fun Regatta, putting in more training for the British Rowing’s Junior Championships at National Watersports Centre, Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham this coming weekend. Steve Wellstead, Junior Co-ordinator commented, “The junior squad will be heavily represented with crews from J14, J15, J16 and J17/18 categories all there for their chance for glory against some of the best schools and clubs in the country: we wish them luck! The logistics of getting multiple boats, trailers, coaches, athletes,
coaches and supporters to National Water Sports Centre, Nottingham is immense and I’d like to thank all who have given their support, time and effort to make this complex exercise possible!”
For media coverage, see Stratford Observer page four https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/editions/view/?/Stratford/2025/07/18&pages=24 and online https://www.stratfordobserver.co.uk/news/all-smiles-at-stratford-boat-clubs-fun-regatta and Stratford Herald online https://www.stratford-herald.com/sport/masters-compete-against-the-nation-s-best-on-iconic-course-9425571 and pages forty seven and pages twenty two and twenty three
For pictures of the Fun Regatta, see Kathy Baines’ great selection at https://1drv.ms/f/c/8e50dac120123b06/EsckqrD2bNZGuZ_TxqfQOZcBRP0rWUyhtwHd2Bp8W4x3Fg
On Saturday, Thomas Doherty and Rebecca England represented Stratford in the mixed masters CDE double sculls at City of Oxford Regatta. For their first race, they faced Swindon, a fellow D crew, in the semi-final and enjoyed a comfortable win over the 1000m course. A harder task awaited in the final where they came up against Abingdon. Being older, Abingdon had the advantage of a head start which allowed them to negate the disadvantage of their bend. Even though Stratford had a fast start and a good row, they were unable to row down the deficit on this occasion, coming second out of the six starting crews.
Star of the show for Stratford was the fourteen year old Tristan Caudle-Stephens. He won both his singles and doubles events. In his single, he sculled beautifully against his City of Oxford opponent who had won two weeks early at Maidenhead, winning by three lengths. In the double there was a close fight between Guildford and Tristan and Neville Hand. Technique ultimately told for another three length Stratford win. These were Tristan’s first ever event victories.
adaptive rower colleague Andy Morris, now at Stourport, and they were drawn against Oxford in his straight final. Another epic fight resulted in a narrow and popular win for James.
disappointment in his single, combined with Andy Morris to defeat another City of Oxford double by a convincing five lengths.
There were final defeats for Edward Owen-Smith in a double, Ricky in his single and for Christiane and Helen Helliwell’s double. All learnt from the experience.
Mark Dewdney, Stratford’s Head Adaptive Coach commented, “The Victor Ludorum Cup and to honour an adaptive rowing pioneer Andy
Weekes who died in February, was our target. All who raced and helped, contributed to Stratford’s adaptive squad taking the honours. City of Oxford regatta completes the adaptive squad’s regatta season. Our next major target is the British Indoor Rowing Championships which this year combined with the Worlds in early December.”
