STRATFORD-upon-Avon Boat Club’s masters squad stormed to victory at Monmouth, securing their first regatta win.
The masters 4x- crew of Emily Sayers, Ellie Davis, Gina Fusco and Christine Goodwin improved on their semi-final performance with a well-executed display in the final.
Stratford overtook Minerva Bath and held their lead to win by a length and a half, beating a strong D crew in the final after overcoming a C crew in the semi-final.
Crew member Fusco, said: “It was lots of fun and we are delighted to be learning and improving all the time. We know what to work on to keep getting faster.”
Fellow masters squad member Heather Hayton won the WMD1x race while Amanda Bowden and Suzie Radley triumphed in both the WMD2x 1,500m and 750m sprints.
Stratford’s masters squad also entered two mixed crews who displayed strong rows while single sculler Richard Shepherd made big improvements.
Masters vice-captain Bowden said: “These crews are ones to watch for the future.”
And two members of Stratford’s adaptive squad also competed at the Monmouth regatta to race in their respective singles events before combining to row against able-bodied crews.
Each sculler took on stiff competition from Llandaff in the singles with Curtis Dickens, SuABC’s GB Paralympic pathway athlete, opponent in a different para category who uses a sliding seat with the former on a fixed seat.
The club’s other adaptive member, Andy Morris, gave away around 35 years to his opponents and performed well with Dickens in the double.
Stratford Boat Club’s head adaptive coach, Mark Dewdney, said: “So, very unusually, no medals for the squad this time. This was the first time Monmouth had staged adaptive races and the Stratford crew were there to mentor them through providing fair and safe racing for those with an impairment.”
