STRATFORD-upon-Avon Boat Club pair Suzie Radley and Amanda Bowden won the masters pennant competing in the Women’s Eights Head of the River Race (WEHORR).
Radley and Bowden formed part of a composite crew alongside rowers from other clubs as the crews took on the 6.8km course on the Tideway in London from Chiswick Bridge to Putney.
And, racing in the boat used by the US Women’s winning eight in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the crew finished 26th overall out of 158 competing crews in a time of 20 minutes and 2 seconds (adjusted for masters).
A strong rhythm saw the crew maintain a pace of 31 strokes per minute for the duration of the course in tough conditions as the head wind pushed against the tide producing very choppy water.
Bowden, Stratford’s women’s masters vice captain, said: “We would like to thank the masters women for all their encouragement and support.
“Messages before, during and after the event have ensured that the masters women are well supported.
“There is more masters women Tideway action to come as the Masters E Crew of Jane Cryer, Ruth Poulton, Katie Burman, Lin Hansen, Caroline Collins, Victoria Noyes, Clare Booth and Rona Fitzpatrick and cox Jen Carey will be racing at Vesta International Masters Head of the River Race on Sunday, March 24.
“They have been training hard and we all wish them good luck.”
The crew enjoyed the victory celebration presentation with the medals presented by Annamarie Phelps CBE, an Olympic rower and former vice chair of the Olympic Association and hosted by Stratford’s Honorary Life Member Camilla Hadland-Horrocks, rowing commentator for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Another successful Stratford rower, Katie Wellstead, also took part in the event, rowing for OUBC.
Due to the high water levels, almost half of the less experienced crews had to withdraw from the event including Stratford’s junior 18 girls boat, for safety reasons.
