STRATFORD-upon-Avon Boat Club’s junior and masters squads competed at the Henley Town and Visitors’ Regatta.
The regatta takes place in a multi-lane format over the Henley course on the River Thames.
Stratford’s J14 squad raced on the Thames for the first time as Connor Birrell and Tristan Hammick raced in a double and then separately in single sculls.
The girls’ quad of Raya Hothi, Bethany Hammond, Abi Dunn, Martina Bruce-Bonilla and Lilly Parsons (cox) were in imperious form as they raced up a class.
The quad raced against older crews from Reading and Shiplake and led from the off in a stellar performance to take the race win.
Hammond and Parsons and Hothi and Bruce-Bonilla then competed in doubles and pushed Hereford all the way in the final but just missed out on a second medal.
Stratford’s J15 squad also took to the water on the Thames for the first time over the 800m course.
Will Shaw and Rory Rowan made a strong start in their race but lost out to a Shiplake Vikings crew by three and a half lengths in the OJ15 2x boys race.
And Seb Happel and Ed Appleton sculled well against eventual winners Wallingford in their semi-final.
In Division Two, Erin Appleton lost by four lengths in a valiant effort against a Hereford sculler who went on to win the WJ15 1x event.
Stratford’s Maria Ntoukaki won her semi-final against a Shiplake Vikings sculler and then finished second in the three-strong side-by-side final, losing out by just one and a half lengths to Hereford.
J15 coach, Hugo Happel said: “This was a great experience for our J15 athletes.
“First time at Henley and they sculled with panache.
“Not enough for medals but great to test themselves and take away some good learning points for the future.
“Well done all athletes.”
Stratford’s under-16 squad also attended Henley in their numbers as the combination of Tessa Parkin and Josephine Cooper rowed up at J18 level.
The double scull finished a strong second against West Midlands rivals from Hereford.
The coxless quadruple scull of Sophie Franklin, Bryony Francis, Isla Dunn and Poppy Warren also finished second behind a Hereford crew.
Parkin and Cooke raced in the women’s J16 single sculls. And Parkin reached the final where she lost out to a Pangbourne sculler.
The women’s J16 double sculls event saw Cooke and Franklin chase down a Hereford crew while Francis and Dunn finished behind a Hereford crew in the final.
Stratford’s masters also took to the water at Henley as the 2x crew of Rebecca England (stroke) and Lucy Scarlett (bow) raced on the 800m upstream course.
England and Scarlett caught up the crews from Eton Excelsior and Oxford Amateur, who both began with a head start.
However, Stratford eventually finished just half a length behind the second-placed crew in a close finish.
