Tag Archives: Turin

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

Adaptives Swap Avon for River Po!

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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

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