STRATFORD-upon-Avon Boat Club hosted their annual junior sprint regatta as more than eight hours of racing took place on the River Avon.
A number of local clubs including Evesham Rowing Club, Royal Grammar School Worcester Boat Club, King Edward VI School Boat Club, Cheltenham Ladies College Rowing Club, Hereford Rowing Club, Magdalen College School Boat Club and Worcester Rowing Club joined hosts Stratford in taking part in the regatta.
The regatta featured three divisions while 124 separate races took place from 8.30am to 5pm in front of a large crowd of spectators.
And Stratford-upon-Avon Town Council Mayor Coun Sam McNaught Barrow attend the regatta and walked the course with Stratford Boat Club chairman Dawson Curnock.
The club’s J13 rowers raced in the Stratford junior sprint regatta at their home event in the squad’s third competition of the season.
Stratford’s coxed quad of Harriet Wheeler, Zilpha Pope, Safian Khan and Luke Spurling, steered by Hattie McGurk, kicked off proceedings and powered down the course but could not overtake their opponents before the finish.
And the pairs of Ruben Hawkswell and Gregor Francis, Enoch Stanford and Eftychios Ntoukakis and Margo Paul and Natasha Wallace represented Stratford in the doubles event.
All three pairings produced strong performances as Paul and Wallace just missed out by a bow ball in a thrilling finish in their race.
The singles races rounded off the regatta for Stratford J13s as Wheeler, McGurk, Francis, Stanford and Ntoukakis all took to the water and doubled up in the J13 open category.
J13 coach, Rebecca Paul said: “All in all, it was a fantastic showing from the young squad who proved themselves to be a credit to the club both in competition and in their support of the event.”
Stratford’s J15 double won their semi-final against a Worcester Royal Grammar School crew by one length but just missed out on victory in the final against Evesham.
And Stratford’s J15x2 of Scarlet Wheel and Raya Hothi lost out to Hereford in the final few strokes of their race.
Stratford’s J15 single, Tristan Hammick, made a fast start in his race only for a late push from his opponent from Hereford to deny the Stratford rower victory.
Both Meredith Paul and Abi Dunn advanced straight to the semi-finals in the J15 singles and won their respective races to set up an all-Stratford final.
The final proved a close affair until the ferry bend as Dunn nudged ahead and kept the lead until the finish to secure a home victory for Stratford.
Stratford’s J16 sculler, Ed Appleton, lost out to a rower from Magdalen College by a single length as the latter rower went on to win the event.
And Stratford’s Euan Richter and Will Shaw won their OJ16 2x semi-final but lost by a canvas to a Magdalen College crew in the final.
However, Stratford’s J16 4x- crew of Orla Linforth, Immie de Pennington, Maria Ntoukaki and Erin Appleton (bow) won by four lengths in a straight final to secure another home victory.
J16 coach, Hugo Happel said: “Well done to all athletes, some brilliant sculling.”
Stratford’s J17/18 squad also took to the water as the double scull of James Albrighton and Theo Richter succumbed to King Edward School in the first round.
The women’s double scull of Tessa Parkin and Josephine Cooper overcame crews from Eversham and Cheltenham en route to winning in the final against Worcester.
And the women’s coxless quadruple scull of Lily Warren, Poppy Warren, Sophie Evans and Bryony Francis beat Evesham by one length in the final to take the trophy.
Stratford Boat Club chairman, Curnock said: “It was a long day’s racing. Our tea tent was extremely busy dispensing dozens of cakes and snacks. What a magnificent day topped by great racing.
“We ran the regatta under very tight safety protocols. We were especially grateful for the help and tolerance of those operators who work and make their living on the river.”
Stratford’s regatta secretary, Helen Heenan added: “We were blessed with good weather for the regatta and there were crowds watching the racing adding much to Stratford’s atmosphere and vitality.
“We were glad to showcase our sport and demonstrate our part in the success of our town.
“Again, we appreciate the tolerance and help from the other river users and colleagues and look forward to our Fun Regatta next month.”
