STRATFORD-upon-Avon Boat Club’s mixed ability group won a glut of medals competing at an international rowing event in Turin, Italy.
Stratford’s rowers won several gold, silver and bronze medals following a number of five abreast side-by-side races on The Po.
Every Stratford member came home with at least one medal.
Mixed ability or fully integrated rowing involves crews of competitors with a disability and their mainstream, able-bodied, club colleagues.
Stratford attended the event in 2022 and were instrumental in encouraging other UK clubs to attend.
In several events, UK crews were made up of a combination of Ross, Glasgow, Stratford and Ross-on-Wye rowers.
The regatta took place over two days of competition with a Special Olympics section for those with an intellectual impairment, a set of straight adaptive/para events.
And there was also a section set aside for the rehabilitation of ex-prisoners from Italian jails plus the mixed ability races.
Stratford’s head adaptive coach, Mark Dewdney, said: “It’s a great and unique event, we have sung its praises in the rowing world and the number of UK and Irish crews attending is on the rise.
“We went for a week to practice, race and enjoy Turin and the company of our Italian friends, in the end, the results don’t matter.
“What does matter is seeing everyone have a good time, a truly integrated regatta.”
