Tag Archives: President of Stratford upon Avon Boat Club

Henley Royal Regatta Honour for Stratford Boat Club

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Stratford upon Avon Boat Club celebrated their 150th year since inception with a row past at Henley Royal Regatta on Friday with a crew drawn from all the Club’s squads

Commenting, Abi Terry, Stratford coach and joint organiser said. “The crew did really well and we want to put out special thanks to James at St Edwards School, Oxford for his help in sorting out the boat as well as the suggestion from Zoe de Toledo. This set the day up well!”

Paul Stanton, President of Stratford upon Avon Boat Club, commented further, “To row at Henley Royal Regatta is a great honour for any rower: to be granted a row past at Henley to celebrate the Club’s 150th year is an accolade of which to be proud and will be remembered by those who were lucky enough to represent the Club and stand as an aspiration for young rowers to come. It is also stands as a memorial for those athletes and volunteers who have guided and worked hard to make the Club what it is today! We would also like to thank the organisers of Henley Royal Regatta for granting us the honour of this row past.”

Stratford’s row past crew were truly representative of the whole Club and comprised of two members of the Junior squad V Vondrak (J17) and Xavier Sissins-Roffey (J16); two members of the Senior squad Will Beattie and Imogen North (also J16 Coach); two members of the Adaptive squad Gillian Middleton and Mark Dewdney (also Head Adaptive Coach); two members of the Masters’ squad Suzie Radley and Tom Doherty and cox Jen Cary

For media coverage, see Stratford Herald page forty four and Stratford Observer online https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/sport/rowing-stratford-boat-club-celebrate-150th-anniversary-year-with-row-past-henley-royal-regatta

For more great pictures of Stratford upon Avon Boat Club’s Royal Henley Regatta 150th Celebration Row Past, please see Kathy Baines’ excellent selection https://1drv.ms/f/s!AgY7EiDB2lCOhs9iGAzXxIFho-cvvA

Stratford’s Dewdney Summoned By High Sheriff!

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Thursday evening saw Stratford upon Avon Boat Club’s Head Adaptive Coach Mark Dewdney at Warwick School for a surprise reception and presentation by the outgoing High Sheriff of Warwickshire, The Lady Willoughby de Broke with a certificate “… in recognition of great and valuable services to the community”.

The award was nominated by Cllr Kevin Taylor, Mayor of Stratford upon Avon who said, “Great night on Thursday evening attending The High Sheriff of Warwickshire’s Evening reception where she presented awards to various charities from around Warwickshire. Stratford upon Avon charities Lifespace, Safeline and the Street Pastors were all given awards.

All of the Warwickshire Mayors were requested to nominate a volunteer of the year award and it was a great honour to nominate Mark Dewdney, Head Adaptive Coach and main instigator of the adaptive rowing squad at Stratford upon Avon Boat Club.

Mark is a truly inspirational character with a vision of creating an incredibly inclusive and important section of a great sporting club. He works tirelessly to deliver and although now supported by a very willing number of dedicated volunteers, without his vision drive and enthusiasm this would have never happened.”

Kevin continued, “Volunteers such as Mark are critical in the delivery of projects in the area: they are the catalysts in delivering programmes such as this and I know I will be seeking Mark’s advice in how to deliver an adaptive group within Stratford upon Avon Table Tennis Club. Well done, Mark: this award is incredibly well deserved!”

Commenting further, Paul Stanton, President of Stratford upon Avon Boat Club said, “Mark had no idea that this award was coming and it was very special to have the evening and award presented by The High Sheriff Lady Willoughby de Broke. We are immensely proud of Mark and all that he has done for the Club and the local community: the adaptive section and the Club goes from strength to strength and is reliant and built on the volunteering ethic that Mark exemplifies!”

For media inclusion, see Stratford Herald page fifty nine and online https://www.stratford-herald.com/sport/boat-club-coach-scoops-surprise-volunteer-of-the-year-award-9249269

… AND FINALLY: STRATFORD BOAT CLUB ADAPTIVE SECTION GETS IT’S AWARD!

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Thursday was a great day for Stratford upon Avon Boat Club’s adaptive section with the squad finally being awarded their plaque for winning Parasport Club of the Year!

The day was much enhanced by a visit from Ellen Buttrick, Paralympic Rowing Gold Medal winner from Tokyo 2020, and Alice Tai, Paralympic, World, European and Commonwealth Swimming Champion. The two Paralympian athletes jointly presented the Parasport Club of the Year winner’s plaque to the adaptive section

Guests at the presentation also included Barry Lloyd, Parasport Campaign Project Manager for the British Paralympic Association; Richard Burt, Centre Principal, Listers Toyota; Joseph Hawkins, Marketing Manager, Listers Group Ltd; Cllr Kevin Jackson, Mayor of Stratford upon Avon and Jo Atkinson, Community Support Manager, British Rowing. Toyota is the sponsor for the Paralympic Games

As well as the presentation, Ellen Buttrick and Alice Tai took to the water in Stratford Boat Club’s adaptive boats with adaptive athletes and coaches and were shown a typical adaptive session as well as inspecting some of the Club’s specialised adaptive equipment

Mark Dewdney, Stratford Boat Club’s Head Adaptive Coach said, “We are very grateful for this accolade and winning Parasport Club of the Year has been a great morale booster for the adaptive athletes. To have the winner’s plaque presented by such inspirational Paralympian athletes as Ellen and Alice was the crowning glory!”

Commenting, Paul Stanton, President of Stratford upon Avon Boat Club said, “To have our adaptive section recognised with this award and have so many guests see and understand what it takes to get adaptive athletes safely onto the water is a great honour. We look forward to consolidation our co-operation with local companies to make our adaptive section accessible to all disabled athletes where possible”

For media coverage, see Stratford Herald page fifty nine and online at https://www.stratford-herald.com/sport/paralympians-visit-a-crowning-glory-9218428 and also Stratford Observer online at https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/sport/paralympic-champions-present-club-with-top-award

A Busy Week for Stratford Boat Club!

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It’s been a busy week for Stratford upon Avon Boat Club! On Thursday, the adaptive section had a visit from Cllr Tony Jackson, former Mayor of Stratford upon Avon, to see what his donation from The Mayor’s Fund had gone towards

Cllr Jackson during his term in office had three chosen causes which were Volunteers, People with Disabilities and Health and Well Being. Commenting Paul Stanton, President of Stratford upon Avon Boat Club said, “Tony has been a great supporter of the Club and especially the adaptive squad and he understands the importance of sport and recreation for the welling and health of the adaptive and other athletes”

Said Mark Dewdney, Stratford Boat Club’s Head Adaptive Coach, “Tony was most interested to learn of the extra and special equipment needed to get adaptive athletes onto the water such as a Madeleine chair for lifting athletes from their wheelchair to their boat; specially adapted seats enabling disabled athletes to row and use an ergo; a ramp for wheelchairs to access the pontoon for boating; floats for adaptive boats as well as the emergency rescue launch with all its specialised equipment, purchase and running costs. Tony was pleased to learn that his contribution from The Mayor’s Fund has gone towards some of these essential items as well as towards a new adaptive boat soon to arrive”

For media coverage, please see Stratford Herald page ten