Bedford rowers rubbed shoulders with Olympic and current World Champions when they raced at the Fours Head of the River Race on Saturday.

The event run over the 4¼ mile course on the river Thames in London had 550 entries from clubs nationwide.

In good conditions, the first of the five Bedford RC crews to race was the experienced Men’s senior 2 quadruple scull of Andrew Hardwick, Andrew McCartney, Tom Robb and Bedford RC club Captain Mike Hardy who finished in a time of 19:56 minutes.

Competing on the Tideway course for the first time was the Junior quadruple scull of James Beechinor, Ben Herridge, Tristan Derry and Jonathon Thompson, who finished 316th overall, 60 places ahead of the Men’s Senior 3 coxed 4.

Cox Kayleigh Pullinger inspired her crew, (John Vendy, Ben Fears, Chris Hemmingway & Stuart Lewis), to overtake 4 other crews during the race to complete the course in a time of 22:01 minutes.

Hot on their heels were a Women’s Senior 3 coxed 4 of Kay Budd-Fletcher, Gail Owen, Helen Knowles and Emma Dixon-Kelly, coxed by Giles Moon who finished 14th in their category in a time of 23:13 minutes.

The Women’s Elite Coxless Four, comprising Claire Higgins, Vicky Rigby, Claire Newton and Lydia Swift, completed the course in a time of 22:34.

Bedford RC Captain Mike Hardy said “It was pleasing to see all 5 crews performing well.”

The event was won overall by a crew from Henley-based Leander Club.

Written by John Mingay, appeared in the Times & Citizen on Friday 18th November 2005