STRATFORD-upon-Avon Boat Club’s scullers impressed at Gloucester Rowing Club’s Autumn Head on the Sharpness Canal.
The event attracted a strong field of junior, senior and masters crews from across the region, competing over a 5km course.
Stratford’s WJ16 2x of Orla Linforth and Erin Appleton sculled well over the distance to finish sixth in their race.
The OJ16 4x- of Ed Appleton, Will Shaw, Euan Richter and Rory Rowan had to take evasive action halfway down the course to prevent a drifting single sculler from making contact with their boat.
This meant the crew had to settle for a second place finish, seven seconds behind the victors from Hereford Rowing Club.
In the WJ16 1x race, Stratford’s Maria Ntoukaki sculled well to finish second in her band three event by just three seconds.
She finished in a time of 24 minutes 10 seconds – significantly faster than six scullers from William Borlase School and Millfield.
Stratford’s J16 coach, Hugo Happel, said: “All athletes sculled well indeed on a long course and the many lessons learnt will be taken to our next events.”
Stratford’s J17/J18 squad also competed strongly across a number of events.
The WJ18 coxless quadruple scull of Tessa Parkin, Maeve Dunn, Millie Smith and Martha Cooke delivered an impressive performance to finish second behind a quality crew from Hartpury College.
This was despite recording a time that would have seen them win the senior event.
The Open J18 double scull of Xavier Sissins-Roffey and Seth Vondrak also claimed second place as they pushed another Hartpury crew all the way to the line.
Stratford also fielded two WJ18 double sculls with Tessa Parkin and Millie Smith finishing fourth and Maeve Dunn and Martha Cooke close behind in fifth place.
Meanwhile, in the Open J18 single sculls, Xavier Sissins-Roffey and Seth Vondrak showed strong individual form, securing third and fourth place respectively.
Stratford women’s senior 2x of Rebecca England at stroke and Lucy Scarlett at bow built up to a good rhythm in their race.
Despite unpredictable gusts, the Stratford crew persevered well in their longest race together to date and finished third out of six crews in a competitive field.
Stratford’s masters squad also took to the water in Gloucester.
The crew of Will Shaw (cox), Ellie Davis (stroke), Abby Symons, Fiona Schultz, Gina Fusco, Helen Helliwell, Caroline Collins, Jane Cryer and Charlotte Jones (bow) competed well in an eight.
Stroke Ellie Davies said: “It was a good long row and great to see the progress the women’s masters’ squad is making through the winter racing season.
“Will was a fabulous cox and his calls were excellent.
“Our thanks to all our supporters and coach Sam Hill who help make racing away possible and also for the training support and encouragement.”
Stratford’s adaptive squad were the only adaptive team to feature in Gloucester, fresh from their success in Turin.
In the doubles, an all-Stratford affair saw Ian and Paola Ward race against Ethan Roberts and Neville Hand.
And the Ward’s secured a narrow 14-second victory with Roberts competing at his first Head event.
