STRATFORD-upon-Avon Boat Club’s masters squad won four out of five races at the Bewdley Rowing Club Regatta.
The mixed masters VIII crew of (bow) Jeannette Caldecott, Tom O’Doherty, John Charlesworth, Rebecca England, Patrick Taylor, Dan Simkins, Suzie Radley and Amanda Bowden, coxed by Elisabeth Edwards, raced against high-level opposition from Nottingham.
A fast start saw both crews neck and neck over the first quarter of the course before Stratford inched ahead with a race pace of 33 strokes per minute.
Leading by half a length at the midway point, Stratford increased their lead and held on to cross the line in first place.
Racing in their inaugural pairs race, Taylor and Simkins competed against an experienced Ross crew and established a solid rhythm early on to secure victory by half a length.
Stratford’s women’s double of England and Caldecott were also racing together for the first time and claimed a convincing win against a Minerva Bath Rowing Club crew.
In their second race in the double sculls, Stratford took on home favourites Bewdley and recovered from a rocky start to move away from their opponents and claim another excellent win.
The newly-formed men’s masters VIII suffered from illness and injury in the lead up to their race and lost to a strong and seasoned Monmouth crew but gained valuable experience.
And Stratford masters member Tom Doherty endured a busy weekend taking part in coastal rowing races as he came second in a time of 1 hour 44 minutes in a side-by-side race, losing out by just 15 seconds.
Stratford masters vice-captain, Bowden, said: “The masters’ squad is more active and this regatta saw the men out racing in numbers. I am delighted with the participation and the medals justified the training that these crew members have put in, indoors over the winter and on the water during the summer. I am excited to see how the masters’ squad continues to develop.”
