STRATFORD-upon-Avon Boat Club athletes finally made it onto the water following after weeks of unfavourable river conditions.
The club’s women’s masters VIII of Ellie Davis (stroke), Gina Fusco, Jane Cryer, Abby Symons, Helen Helliwell, Corinna Burger, Caroline Collins, Claudine Pearson (bow) and Jen Cary (cox) raced at Gloucester for the Wycliffe Big Head.
A swift start from Davis settled the crew into a steady rhythm over the 4.5km race.
Coach Sam Hill said: “The crew can be pleased with the solid technical row and it proved great training for the next race at the Women’s Eights Head of the River in March.”
And the coxless quadruple scull of Poppy Baines, Sophie Evans, Tessa Parkin and Millie Smith represented the club’s J18 squad.
The quad finished seventh overall, overhauling last season’s foes Hereford Cathedral School in the process.
Stratford’s J16 squad also took to the water at the Wycliffe Big Head.
The OJ16 4x- crew of Seb Happel, Euan Richter, Will Shaw and Ed Appleton (bow) finished second in a field of 12 crews in 17 minutes 36 seconds.
Stratford beat crews from Kings School Worcester, Cheltenham College, Great Marlow B and Hereford Cathedral School.
In the WJ16 4x- event, Orla Linforth, debutant Immie de Pennington, Maria Ntoukakis and Erin Appleton (bow) placed fifth in a time of 19 mins 8 secs.
Stratford finished ahead of Royal Shrewsbury A, Great Marlow School A and Hereford Cathedral School A.
Coaches Hugh Happel and Eric Appleton said: “The athletes applied the training learning points and put on a noteworthy performance.”
The J15 boys’ squad of Reuben Stanford, Nathan Lebordis, Connor Birrell and Tristan Hammick, with Martina Bruce at cox, finished fifth in a strong field in 18 mins 22 secs.
And the J15 girls’ crew of Abi Dunn, Meredith Paul, Lilly Parsons and Scarlett Wheeler, with Raya Hothi at cox, finished 11th in their race in 21 mins 42 secs.
J15 coach, Dave Parkin added: “It was great to get the J15 crews racing again for the first time this year and, despite challenging conditions of rain, a strong breeze and quite a lot of waiting around, the crews had a good day.”
King Edward VI School Boat Club also had crews competing at the Wycliffe Big Head.
