Tag Archives: River Po

Stratford’s Adaptive Squad Triumph in Turin!

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Stratford upon Avon Boat Club’s Adaptive Squad paid its fourth visit to the annual two day IMAS/Adaptive Regatta run by Armida Rowing Club in Turin, Italy. The Stratford “Plus” team consisted of eight Stratford adaptive rowers, two from Glasgow Rowing Club, a volunteer who flew in from Hawaii, three coaches, two trainee coaches and a fair number of family members and friends, thirty people in total!

Training on the very wide River Po was enjoyed over the several days leading up to the regatta: the event focuses on inclusion and the standard of rowing can thus vary widely. Some of the Italian competition on the first day, Saturday, was particularly tough. However, over the two days every single rowing member of the squad took Gold in either a single, a double or a quad with some squad scullers winning several medals with lots of Silver and Bronze medal too Congratulations to Jordan, Ethan, Gillian, Ian, Edward, Tristan, Ricky, Catherine, Joe (Glasgow), Katie (Glasgow), Arminda (Ross), Aron, Paola, Esme and even the ‘old codger’ Mark Dewdney!

The rowing highlights of the trip were perhaps a first outing of a scratch Stratford of a neurodiverse quad of Ian, Ethan, Edward and Tristan with Paola coxing, an experiment that led to a Bronze Medal; the Sunday 500m win of Tristan and Ethan beating their more experienced Stratford colleagues who finished second and third; Edward taking the overall (any age) PR3-ID World Ergo One Minute Record, beating the previous record by thirteen metres; Jordan’s two Golds on the first day, but there were also many more triumphs.

Head Adaptive Coach Mark Dewdney said, “The squad does like it’s bling and I was happy that everyone won medals. Those competing in their first overseas event performed very well. Everybody enjoyed it. One or two of the Saturday races show we still need to progress. You do not have to be a member of the adaptive squad to come on our trips: if you are prepared to “muck in” and help, it can be a lot of fun!”

For media coverage, see Stratford Herald page forty four and Stratford Observer online https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/sport/rowing-stratford-boat-clubs-adaptive-athletes-strike-gold-in-turin

Stratford’s Adaptives Star on the River Po in Turin

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Stratford upon Avon Boat Club’s adaptive section made their fourth visit to the large Mixed Ability Regatta in Turin, Italy last weekend coming home with a suitcase full of medals including a goodly number of Golds.

The two day Turin event has para, neurodiverse and mixed ability (the disabled and mainstream competing together) elements. There is five side by side racing over 500m and 1000m courses on the beautiful River Po.

The squad flew out the Wednesday before the regatta, together with a few rowers from Ross and Glasgow Rowing Clubs. Thursday and Friday mornings were reserved for practice, the afternoons for sightseeing and enjoying the 20C+ sunny weather.

Every member of the Stratford team won at least one medal on each of the days. The Club did very well in the small boats, singles and doubles, less well in the quad and fours racing: there is a lack of competition in the latter in the UK

There were a number of highlights for the club over the two days of the regatta:  Ethan Roberts and Gillian Middleton competing in their very first singles races, Edward Owen-Smith (only 13 years old) and Ricky Clutterbuck competing in singles at an international event for the first time.

There was an epic Saturday race in the Men’s Mixed Ability Quads: this turned into a close struggle between Stratford and the host club Armida. Stratford eventually won by a third of a length. Also piling on the wins were Ethan and Edward winning their 1000m Mixed Ability doubles events by comfortable margins: in each case partnered by trainee coach Aron Altman.

Also showing their mettle were the squad’s long serving members Gillian Middleton and Hattie Throssell coming home with a handful of medals. Ricky Clutterbuck winning three Golds over the weekend, one each in a single, a double and a quad. Katie Ash-Wilson (Glasgow), part of the UK squad for Turin, was awarded the prize for best female athlete of the weekend and Katie and Arminda Phillips (Ross) competed very successfully in many of the UK squad’s crew boats.

Head Adaptive Coach Mark Dewdney commented, “It’s a great event, enjoyable and competitive in lovely surroundings. Even this old man made a brief racing comeback to join the fun! Everyone is welcome to join these trips, able bodied and adaptive, providing you are willing to help a little and jump in any boat you are asked to. If you would like to consider support rowing for the adaptive squad at Stratford, come and have a chat with me.”

For more pictures of the adaptive squad in Turin, see Mark Dewdney’s selection https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GRtzGdmyoKZrTbef78yCCRyZe5NSZNoV?usp=sharing

Stratford Goes Paddling on the Po!

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The Stratford upon Avon Boat Club’s Mixed Ability Group attended an international rowing event in Turin, Italy last week. Mixed Ability is the name given to fully integrated rowing – crews being made up of competitors with a disability and their mainstream – able-bodied – Club colleagues. Stratford, who attended the event in 2022, were instrumental in encouraging other UK clubs to attend. In several events, the UK crews were made up of a combination of Ross, Glasgow, Stratford and Ross-on-Wye rowers

The regatta itself was made up of several parts over two days of competition. A Special Olympics section for those with an intellectual impairment, a set of straight adaptive/para events. There was also a section set aside for the rehabilitation of ex-prisoners from Italian jails plus the Mixed Ability races

All the UK teams, whether individually or in the combined crews, had a very successful weekend. Stratford rowers won several gold, silver and bronze medals competing in five abreast side by side racing on the River Po. Every Stratford Boat Club competitor came home with a least one gong!

Commenting. Mark Dewdney, Stratford’s Head Adaptive Coach said, “It’s a great and unique event: we have sung its praises in the rowing world and the number of UK and Irish crews attending is on the rise. We went for a week to practice, race and enjoy Turin and the company of our Italian friends: in the end, the results don’t matter. What does matter is seeing everyone have a good time: a truly integrated regatta!”

For media coverage, please see British Rowing online https://www.britishrowing.org/2023/10/stratford-goes-paddling-on-the-po and Stratford Observer online https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/sport/rowing-stratford-boat-clubs-mixed-ability-rowers-claim-glut-of-medals-at-international-event and back sports page https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/editions/view/?/Stratford/2023/10/20&pages=32. Also Stratford Herald page forty four and online https://www.stratford-herald.com/sport/medals-for-all-at-italian-regatta-9335697 For more great pictures of Turin, please see the Adaptive Squad’s selection https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1g8mkTDJYpf9Wv7pOZ0thbErYJrEay5cj?usp=sharing