STRATFORD-upon-Avon Boat Club’s junior and adaptive athletes impressed competing at the Holme Pierrepont Country Park in Nottingham.
Competing for the first time at the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta, Stratford’s J14 open double of James Greenwood and Rory Rowan sculled well in the 1000m time trial to qualify for the C final which they won.
And the coxed four of Seb Happel, Euan Richter, Will Shaw and Ed Appleton, with Orla Linforth at cox, qualified for the B final where they finished fifth.
Stratford’s J14 coach, Hugo Happel, said: “Fantastic work ethic from the J14’s here, in their first event at this venue.
“They are taking away lots of fine learning points as well as new connections with the boys from George Watson College.”
Stratford’s J15 also headed to Nottingham to represent the West Midlands at the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta in a national level event competing against regional teams from across the UK.
The women’s coxed quadruple scull of Tessa Parkin, Martha Baines, Maeve Dunn, Sophie Franklin and Martha Cooke (coxswain) powered down the course in the time trial to secure their place in the A final.
And the crew came home sixth in the final after an explosive start in a valiant effort.
The women’s coxed four of Isla Dunn, Becca Smith, Millie Smith, Bryony Francis and Josephine Cooper (coxswain) also qualified for their A final.
And the crew missed out on bronze by just seven hundredths of a second after an exciting battle with the East Midlands crew.
Stratford’s J16 scullers also showcased their respective talents at the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta as Xavier Sissins-Rofey finished just four seconds away from securing bronze.
And Poppy Baines finished sixth in her race while Alexandra Francis won silver just two seconds behind the gold medal winner.
Stratford’s J16 coach, Colin Bell, said: “Their performances have certainly raised the bar for the regattas to come.”
The club’s adaptive squad also competed at the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta with Stratford’s Isaac Clarkson, aged 14, still two years younger than all of his opponents in the adaptive singles event.
And Clarkson rowed superbly over the 1000m course, pushing the race leaders all the way to the finish line to claim bronze.
Stratford’s head adaptive coach, Mark Dewdney, said: “Isaac kept to the plan and has worked hard in recent months, the bronze is a just reward.”
The following day, Stratford’s para-rower Curtis Dickens attended his second GB squad development camp of the year which culminated in a 2000m race against his rival from Scotland.
Dickens impressed the GB coaches with his development over the winter as he secured a first win over his more experienced Scottish opponent.
The race marked the first time Dickens posted a sub 10-minute time and was a 44-second improvement since the GB trials in November.
Dewdney added: “We are more than satisfied with how things are going: Curtis’ next big target is to represent England at the Home International Regatta in July.”
