A Bedford Rowing Club crew recorded the second fastest time eve at the Evesham Head of the River Race on Saturday, writes Lydia Swift.

The Mens Senior 3 Quadruple Sculls of Michael Hardy, Andrew Hardwick, Chris Hemmingway and Andrew McCartney finished in 14mins 53secs.

This was a new category record and only multiple Olympic gold medalists Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent have gone quicker - by eight seconds.

Clare Smith and Sarah Keens also broke the course record for the Womens Junior 16 Double Sculls event winning in a time of 19 minutes 10 seconds nearly a minute ahead of their opposition.

Smith was then joined by Katherine Allison, Sophie Robertson & Jelena Tomanic to set another course best in the Womens Senior 4 Quads.

The Senior Women’s squad picked up a win in the Senior 3 coxed fours in 18mins 12secs.

The crew of Claire Higgins, Helen Knowles, Emma Dixon-Kelly & Vicky Rigby coxed by Lydia Swift, were nearly two minutes ahead of their nearest competition from the host club Evesham.

Tim Coles, Ben Fears, Chris Phelps and John Vendy won the Mens Novice Coxed four event in a time of 17mins 28secs.

Bedford Rowing Club also won five other events with Chris Hemmingway and Stuart Lewis recording victory in the Mens Novice Double Sculls, and Mike Hardy and Andrew Hardwick winning the Mens Senior 3 Double Sculls.

The Mens and Womens Squad also won their respective Senior 1 Coxed Fours events, and the Womens Squad won the Womens Senior 3 Double Sculls.

Three crews enjoyed a 100 per cent success rate at the Star Small Boats Head on Sunday.

Mike Harris was the clear winner in Veteran E sculls, a minute ahead of his nearest rival. Lydia Swift won the Women’s Senior Four Sculls and the Veteran E crew of Ian Darnell, Chris Wisbey, Shirle Musselle and Maurice Stanbridge won their coxless fours event.

Full results from the Evesham Rowing Club website

Written by Lydia Swift, appeared in the Times & Citizen on Friday 2nd December 2005