STRATFORD Boat Club had two reasons to celebrate at the prestigious Fours Head prizegiving held at Fuller’s Brewery in Chiswick, London.
As well as picking up the award for the Men’s Coxed Four Challenge event, the club was also named as the inaugural winners of the Davison Award which is given to the ‘standout performance’ from a small club.
There were many clubs from around the country, all of which were reviewed by the Fours Head Committee, which met the criteria of the Davison Award.
After much deliberation, the conclusion was the performance of Stratford Boat Club’s senior men and junior women made them worthy winners. The award was given by Mrs Davison, in memory of her husband Noel who was a stalwart supporter of rowing and long-term honorary secretary of the Fours Head event.
Dr Graham Collier, who has been coaching at Stratford for 15 years and was a former captain of the club, said: “Winning this award continues to keep our small club at the forefront of British rowing.
“It was the tremendous performance by the junior women’s coxed four of Katie Wellstead, Talei Dunn, Khloe Curnock and Molly-Gill-Swift, expertly coxed by Mimi Hill, that provided the support to the outstanding men’s coxed four and enabled the club to collect this supreme award.”
As well as the decorated blade, the men’s coxed four of Amie Jones, Mike Hourigan, Tom Coles, Finn Sprackling and Patrick Hourigan also picked up prestigious Fours Head medals to recognise their victory in the Challenge Fours event.
Stratford BC president Paul Stanton said: “Our sincere thanks from our members, athletes, supporters, coaches and helpers to the Fuller’s Head of the River Fours committee and especially to Mrs Davison and her family for their commitment to our small club and honouring us by presenting this inaugural award to the club in person.
“Our thanks also to Fuller’s Brewery for their magnificent hospitality.”
Senior men’s coach Bill Sullivan added: “It was a great evening and a fitting reward for all the hard work the guys put in over the autumn.
“It was good to see them let their hair down and take full advantage of the free beer kindly poured out by Fuller’s, the very generous sponsor. Our Stratford boys showed a fitting determination to enjoy a celebration in a brewery!”
