Spring test for club’s youngest rowers
STRATFORD Boat Club’s youngest squads were out in force at Bedford Spring Head, displaying their skills on a stretch of river perfect for all to witness how far they have progressed, reports Chris Best.
The J13s, racing up a category as J14s, put out two quads in consecutive divisions and both recorded solid times and impressed with intelligent race plans that saw them cross the line just seconds apart.
The J14 squad were similarly well represented and chalked up a win and a number of second place finishes.
Both of Stratford’s J15 coxed fours were racing. First up were Seb Happel, Will Shaw, Euan Richter and Ed Appleton, coxed by Rory Jones, rowing neatly in the OJ16 4+ against three home crews from Bedford School in 7m 30s. Next up were Orla Linforth, Maria Ntoukaki, Naomi Sime and Erin Appleton, coxed by Ed Appleton, rowing nicely in the W4+ and setting a great time of 8m 17s, matching the Stratford WJ18 crew! Finally, in the OJ15 2x event, Richter and Rory Rowan sculled well over the 2km distance, in 8m 7s.
The J16 squad competed in four events. First to go was the women’s coxless quadruple scull of Martha Cooke, Tessa Parkin, Martha Baines and Bryony Francis who competed in the J17 event and delivered a superb row for second place against Walbrook Rowing Club. Next off was the women’s coxed four crew of Isla Dunn, Becca Smith, Tessa Parkin, Maeve Dunn and Bryony Francis (coxswain) who again rowed up a category to race against senior women and again demonstrated their quality to come home second against the Loughborough Rowing Club women.
The racing continued thick and fast with the WJ16 double sculls of Cooke and Dunn sprinting home to fifth whilst Baines and Francis took the win in style. Hungry for more, the J16s then took to the water in the single sculls event.
Racing for a third time in the day, Parkin was a creditable sixth in a 17-strong field. Smith was fourth with and Maeve Dunn taking the win with a confident row in the late afternoon sunshine.
Racing first down the course for the Stratford crews were the boys J18 quads. Xavier Sissins-Rofey, Theo Richter, Jamie Wilcox and Seth Vondrak set off at a blistering pace, executing a solid race plan to put them in second place, although the fifth fastest overall crew of the day. Later in the day they returned to the water in Open Coxless Fours’ event, where they put down another strong performance against their older competitors to finish fourth.
In their first race of the day, Poppy Baines and Lucy Sartain paired up to race the WJ18 doubles in dominant style. They powered down the course taking an expert line through the bridges to claim a distinct win. Also racing in the WJ18 doubles were Lily Warren and Aimee Appleton who finished third.
In the WJ18 1x event, both Stratford crews put in good races to come second and third, chasing each other down the course. Later the WJ18 quad rowed an excellent race, brilliantly steered by Sartain, to win their event by over ten seconds.
In Division Six, the crew of Alexandra Francis, Aimee Appleton, Scarlett Richardson and Poppy Baines took to the course in the Women’s Coxless Fours’ event against older and more experienced crews. The four completed a powerful race to claim silver.
Amanda Bowden, masters’ vice-captain said: “This was the first race for several of Stratford’s masters’ crews and the first time steering a race for a couple of the bow steerers.”
The MxD4x of Suzie Radley, Dan Simkins, Patrick Taylor and Bowden won the category with an adjusted time of 6m 48s. The crew raced hard and were consistent throughout the race, despite steering challenges and very choppy water conditions in places.
The MD2- of Dan Simkins and Patrick Taylor stuck to their race plan and were delighted to complete the 2km race in an adjusted time of 7m 24s, under rating the winners, to claim second.
The single scullers of Tom Doherty in the Masters’ E category and Nick Sartain in the Masters’ D category both rowed strong rhythms and completed the course in 8m 21s and 7m 46s respectively. Doherty was nip and tuck with the Leicester sculler for the whole course, with choppy waters in the mid section adding to an eventful race. The Stratford sculler just prevailed by five seconds to finish in second place in a field of five with the local Bedford sculler using his local knowledge to win by nine seconds.
The Mx2x of Doherty and Rebecca England came fourth in their category.
The WMD2x of Radley and Bowden had a great start then as they overtook another double who then lost control and steered into the Stratford boat. This resulted in a stop, resulting in a considerable time loss of 30 seconds and second place.
The OpME4- of David Noyes, Rich Shepherd, Nev Hands and John Charlesworth raced hard gaining valuable experience on a challenging course. Unfortunately the WME4x including Christine Goodwin and Gina Fusco was hampered by injury and sickness but Rebecca England and Imogen North subbed and they were able to enjoy a row over the course for a time of 7m 50s
Meanwhile, Stratford’s adaptive squad attended the annual Adaptive Phyllis Court Time Trial on the Henley Regatta course. The squad was largely made up of established competitors, the event coming a little too soon for a number of recent recruits.
The best club time of the day was achieved by the mother and son combination of Ian and Paola Ward. Best newcomer went to Ricky Clutterbuck. Gillian Middleton, competing for the first time in a single scull, won the most improved category.
