STRATFORD-upon-Avon Boat Club’s masters’ squads enjoyed success at the Winter Head of the River Race on the River Wye.
The annual event took place at Monmouth Rowing Club.
The masters WMDVIII crew of Lin Hansen, Jane Cryer, Katie Burman, Caroline Collins, Lucy Scarlett, Corinna Burger and Claudine Pearson in bow, with Jen Carey at cox and Fiona Schulz at stroke, entered in the first division.
And the crew quickly found their rhythm to finish the 2,250 course in a time of 7 minutes 59 seconds.
Hansen said: “A great day was had by this crew of lovely women, we celebrated our very respectable race time with mulled wine and cake.”
Stratford’s WMEVIII crew of Amanda Bowden, Suzie Radley, Rebecca England, Heather Hayton, Ellie Davis, Gina Fusco, Sue Brown and Kjersti Rogneflaten Wolley with Alistair Washbourn at cox made a steady start to their race.
The crew pushed throughout to take the race win in a time of 7 mins 17 secs.
And the masters’ men’s novice VIII crew followed in the second division later on as the wind picked up to create challenging conditions.
In their first head race, the crew coped with the conditions well as stern pair Gary Kinley and David Timmins and cox Carey used their experience to great effect.
A middle four powerhouse combination of Mark Kelly, Tom Stokes, Dawson Curnock and Andrew Lear, with David Triggs and Gavin Bliss in bow, produced a promising first performance.
Kelly said: “It was good to be in a boat, in a competition. It was a great race.”
Stratford’s WM4+ crew of Rebecca England, Lucy Scarlett, Corinna Burger and Claudine Pearson raced again later in the day, coxed by Washbourn.
The crew started well in a strong head wind and raised the stroke rate for a final push at the end to take the race win, also negating the time handicap from a strong Bewdley crew.
And the MWD4x of Heather Hayton, Suzie Radley, Amanda Bowden and Sue Brown also won their race in a time of 7 mins 19 secs.
Masters vice captain, Bowden said: “I am delighted that Monmouth Head was still able to go ahead, following the flood waters that had engulfed the whole valley earlier on in the week due to Storm Bert and the remaining fast stream.
“The enjoyment and value gained by developing oarsmen and women is enormous.”
