Some of the winners show off their Quart tankards
Press Release from Bedford Rowing Club – 16th July 2007
Bedford Rowing Club had a bumper day at the Bedford Quarts Sprint Regatta on Sunday 15th July. Despite thunder, lightening and torrential rain during the afternoon finals, Bedford Rowing Club won nine of the 18 event finals in which the club was represented, more than double the number of any other competing club.
Leading the way were the senior and junior men who won nine events. The senior 3 coxed four of Chris Bland, Andrew Hardwick, Matya Ilic, Tom Robb and cox Chris Boustead started the winners by beating Bedford School in a close race by ¼ length.
The mens novice squad won all the events they entered. The Novice Eights was won by Jonathon Thompson, James Beechinor, Martin Smith, Jeremy Howell, Dan Bridgman, Rienk Vogel, Alan Clarke and stroke Michael Funge, coxed by Doug Black.
The Novice Four crew of Jeremy Howell, Rienk Vogel, Dan Bridgman, Martin Smith and cox Ellie Parkes-Young beat Peterborough City RC.
Novice Fours (Invitation) – Robert Duigan, Amirthanathan Prathesh, Chris Varney, Chris Phelps and cox Ellie Parkes-Young who beat local opposition from Star Club. Leon Taylor also beat a sculler from Star Club to win Senior 1 single sculls. Junior Single Sculls was won by James Beechinor and Junior 15 single sculls by Andrew Walker
The women’s squad won two events: Amelia Clow and Nicky Hardy in Women’s Senior 3 double sculls beat Stratford upon Avon RC and the Women’s Senior 3 coxed four of Jayne Smith, Sara Orme, Katie Keene, Liane Higgins and cox Lydia Swift beat Broxbourne RC by three lengths.
The event also saw the first award of the John Smith Memorial Trophy, awarded in memory of the event's founder and former Club President, John Smith who lost his battle with cancer in May. The trophy - kindly donated to the Club by John's wife Suzy - is awarded to novice crews, the selected event this year being Womens Novice eights. This event was won by Linacre Boat Club, who were duly delighted to be awarded the trophy in addition to their Quart tankards, a memorable way to celebrate their novice win.
The Chairman of the Eastern Region Rowing Council, Mike Mansfield, took the opportunity of the regatta to present a special ARA Certificate of Recognition signed by Di Ellis to Sharon Noble-Layng for her work with developing womens junior rowing in the region, in particular for her work with the Eastern region junior inter-regional team.
