STRATFORD-upon-Avon Boat Club’s masters athletes showed their mettle at the Ironbridge Regatta in a successful outing for the squad.
The club’s women’s masters C 2x pair of Rebecca England and Suzie Radley overcame an initial dead heat against a Burton Leander crew to win the re-row.
And England and Radley then beat a Trafford crew in the semi-finals before pulling clear of Windermere in the final to win the event.
However, Stratford’s masters E double of Gina Fusco and Ellie Davis lost by one length in a straight final against Burton Leander.
Stratford’s women’s D coxed IV of England (stroke), Davis, Fusco and Charlotte Jones, coxed by Jen Carey, lost by a length and a half against a crew from Bewdley.
And Stratford pair Caroline Collins and Jane Cryer joined the Bewdley, Worcester and Stourport composite eight E crew to compete against Evesham and rowed to a comfortable victory.
Stratford’s masters men took part in a dramatic quadruple sculls event against a Grosvenor crew who previously won a National Championship gold medal.
In a straight final, both crews left their respective lanes and impeded each other owing to difficult river conditions.
The umpires stepped in and ordered a re-row as the Stratford crew of Pete Spivey, Dan Simkins, Neville Hand and Tom Doherty pulled clear to win by three lengths.
Hand said: “I’m nearly 80-years-old and to get out of the house for a successful Stratford race like this is a real treat.”
And Spivey and Doherty then formed part of a men’s masters eight composite crew with rowers from four other clubs as the pair secured another race victory.
Cryer returned to Ironbridge to compete in the 500m sprint race with a Bewdley women’s masters C crew and claimed victory in the final by two clear lengths.
Cryer said: “It’s the first Ironbridge Regatta I have done and the longer and sprint course which give great variety on a beautiful stretch of river.
“It’s always great to row and even better to win and come back to Stratford with two more winners pots.”
