Stratford upon Avon Boat Club’s newly promoted J14 squad enjoyed a fantastic return to racing at the Evesham Head Race on Saturday 10 October. Following a break from racing over the summer, this was the squad’s first head race for almost a year. The athletes showed great enthusiasm throughout the day producing a series of spirited performances against strong opposition.

The standout result came in the J14 Open Single Sculls where Luke Spurling delivered an excellent race to claim victory. Safian Khan also produced a superb performance to secure second place.

There was further success in the J14 Open Coxed Quad where cox Enoch Stanford guided Ruben Hawkswell, Luke Spurling, Safian Khan and Eftychios Ntoukakis to an impressive second-place finish. The J14 Women’s Coxed Quad of Natasha Wallace (cox), Georgia Wheeler, Margo Paul, Harriet Wheeler and Hattie McGurk also raced strongly finishing fourth in a competitive field.

The squad was well represented across the regatta with Margo Paul and Georgia Wheeler competing in the J14 Women’s Single Sculls, Natasha Wallace and Harriet Wheeler racing in the J14 Double Sculls and two Open Double Sculls crews featuring Gregor Francis and Ruben Hawkswell, alongside Enoch Stanford and Eftychios Ntoukakis.

While podium places were hard fought in many events, every athlete raced with determination and commitment showing clear progress since last season. Commenting, Rebecca Paul, J14 Coach said, “Just as importantly, the squad demonstrated excellent teamwork throughout the day, helping each other prepare for races and working together enthusiastically during the post-event clear-up. The athletes represented the Club superbly both on and off the water and should be proud of their efforts as they begin the new season.”

On a cool crisp and ever increasingly windy day the J15 squad put up some great performances. Starting the day off in Division 1 were Arthur Burt and Archie Mansfield – 2x who had a solid row to finish five seconds off second place, closely followed by Ethan Siwakowski and Archie Eaton – 2x who also had a solid row to finish eight seconds off second place, quickly following on from them were Amelia Cruickshank and Islay Milles – 2x who had a great row and took first place, being a massive twenty one seconds ahead of second placed crew.

Conditions for Division 2 were windier than Division 1 and the J15 boys’ coxed quad of Archie Eaton, Archie Mansfield, Arthur Burt, Ethan Siwakowski superbly coxed by Raya Hothi (WJ16 ) rowed into second place, only to be later disqualified for a rule infringement which was disappointing for all concerned, as it was thought that this was the best that they been seen row in race conditions.

Division 2 was completed by the girls’ coxed quad of Charlotte Franklin, Islay Milles, Amelia Cruickshank, Mary Heenan and again superbly coxed by Bethany Hammond (WJ16), a very strong row saw them win by thirty five seconds which again was a great result for the squad.

Division 3, in probably the worst conditions of the day due to higher winds, saw Charlotte Franklin – 1x manage the weather conditions superbly well to take first place by nine seconds, a great performance. A performance also to note was from Mary Heenan – 1x, again with the weather worsening battled to the end to a credible fifth place.

Commenting, Dawson Curnock, J15 Coach said, “Overall, a very strong performance and one that we will build upon through the coming winter into regatta season: very well done to the squad. Onwards to Henley at the end of October!”

A great start for Stratford’s J16 squad at Evesham Autumn Head over the weekend with all finishes in top four signalling a strong season ahead. Starting off in Division 1, Connor Birrell in the J16x1 and W4x- crew of Abi Dunn, Meredith Paul, Lilly Parsons and Martina Bruce-Bonilla set a strong pace for the rest of the day. Birrell delivered a strong, composed row and was unlucky to miss out on second place by just two seconds.

The J16 4x women competed in a tight three boat race coming in second by only three seconds to our very own Stratford Women’s Masters crew! Division 2 saw three crews on the water and up first was OpJ16 2x Nathan Lebordais and Reuben Stanford, delivering a first place finish with a time of 08:12, showing consistency and confidence throughout the race. WJ16x2 saw two crews, Dunn and Paul and also Parsons and Bonilla-Bruce taking second and fourth respectively in a competitive field. The day rounded out in style for the J16 squad with two coxless quads hitting the water for the final time that day. Charlotte Mansfield, Scarlett Wheeler, Bethany Hammond and Raya Hothi in the WJ164x delivered a third place finish showing consistent rowing throughout the course. The day rounded out nicely with the coxless quad of Lebordais, Birrell, Tristan Hammick and Stanford delivering the second fastest junior boat on the river that day, clocking 7:40 to finish and the third fastest boat on the day overall.

For media coverage, see Stratford Herald page sixty one and online https://www.stratford-herald.com/sport/spurling-leads-stratford-success-at-evesham-9487142