Stratford upon Avon Boat Club’s adaptive squad made its third visit to the international event in Turin in Italy at the start of October. In a combination team with Glasgow, the squad won the trophy for the Best Club over the two days of racing. The Turin Regatta is designed to be as inclusive as possible and included pararowing, mixed ability (able-bodied and impaired athletes racing together) and special Olympic type events: the Stratford rowers competed in the para and mixed ability events. The team was full of new competitors: however, this did not stop them winning medals throughout the weekend. Highlights were Gillian Middleton’s Gold on Saturday in a Mixed Ability Double and Ricky Clutterbuck’s win in a similar boat on the Sunday. Ricky, in his first regatta anywhere, took home four medals altogether.
Commenting, Stratford’s Head Adaptive Coach Mark Dewdney said, “It’s a great event: the best bit being the smiles of those competing! Winning the Trophy was a bonus: given the inexperience of the squad, this was an outstanding result. Stratford’s adaptive section is nearly ten years old and this kind of win reflects the knowledge we have gained over that period: a nice way to end the year”.
Stratford’s Curtis Dickens, on the paralympic pathway, is on a GB camp this coming weekend: Curtis has been invited to GB Trials in early November. The next major event for the rest of the adaptive squad is the British Indoor Rowing Championships in December.
For media coverage, see Stratford Observer online https://www.stratfordobserver.co.uk/sport/rowing-stratford-boat-clubs-adaptive-squad-win-trophy-on-the-po-in-turin and back sports page https://www.stratfordobserver.co.uk/editions/view/?/Stratford/2024/10/18&pages=24: also Stratford Herald online https://www.stratford-herald.com/sport/adaptive-rowers-impress-in-italy-9387931, page fifty eight and also https://digital.imnews.app/app/STR931/editionguid/a79f77b1-63a1-4a18-85ee-faf675d2f3f4.See also British Rowing news online https://www.britishrowing.org/2024/10/adaptive-rowers-swap-river-avon-for-river-po