Kidderminster Shuttle, 15 November 2007

Success for club

BEWDLEY Rowing Club had seven winners at Stourport Boat Club's Small Boats Head tournament on Sunday.

Bewdley was one of the big winnners in the time trials, which saw clubs from around the Midlands descend on the River Severn to compete in two divisions.

The club was represented with crews from its junior, senior and veteran sections, with the youngest Bewdley winner 14-years-old and the oldest 56.

The best result of the day for Bewdley was the men's senior three coxed four crew of Will Keen-Tomlinson, Dave Merchant, Yuri Hamblett, Mark Jinks and cox Sophie McGrath, which made a mockery of its inexperience to win its category.

Mick Edmonds set the fastest time in the men's veterans D single event, while Hadyn Hughes and Jem Rogers won the men's veteran D coxless pair.

The crew of Louise Price, Steph Bryant, Philippa Chapel, Charlotte Beswick and Lorna Pritchard (cox) won the women's senior four coxed four and Laura Ray set the fastest time in the women's senior four single scull race.

Bewdley rowers will be competing at the Head of Avon event, held in Evesham on Saturday, November 24.

The club is holding an open day on Sunday, November 25, which includes a four-hour course for those new to rowing and coxing.

The course will start at 11 am and will involve coaching in the gym and on the water. Those interested must be over 16-years-old and able to swim 100 metres. For more details call Bewdley Rowing Club on 01299 402899.

Attention all would be rowers and coxes

Ever wanted to try rowing….

Or ever wanted to sit in a boat and shout at hurly men or burly women.

On Sunday 25th November Bewdley Rowing Club is running a 4 hour course for New Rowers and New Coxes.

The course will start at 11 am and will involve coaching in the gym and on the water.

If you want to be involved simply fill complete your details on the flyers that are being circulated and drop it in at the club, or visit the club to find out more.

The cost of the course is £10 for New Rowers but is free for New Coxes.

Please turn up in track suits and trainers or similar, and make sure that you have a change of clothes, and bring something to eat for lunch.

Please note you must be aged 16 or over and be able to swim 100 metres.

Bewdley RC 01229 402899

Kidderminster Shuttle, 8 November 2007

Bewdley crews tested

TWO crews from Bewdley Rowing Club took part in the biggest rowing event of the autumn season - the Fuller's Fours Head of the River over the weekend.

Over 540 boats from across the country and abroad raced on the 4.25 mile course between Chiswick Bridge and Putney Bridge on the River Thames.

In almost perfect weather conditions for rowing, Bewdley's crews tested how far they have come against some of the best in the country.

Following on from their success at the Burton Head competition the previous week, the men's senior two coxless four of Matt Thomas, Simon Collingridge, Craig Robinson (captain) and Matt Collier had a good row, despite interrupted preparations due to illness in the week running up to the race.

The women's senior three coxed four of Jenny Merchant, Charlotte Beswick, Philippa Chapel and Laura Ray, coxed by Charlotte Gibson, were hoping for a top ten finish and just missed out when they completed the course in 12th out of 50 entries, finishing ahead of local rivals Warwick BC by just three seconds.

The Wyre Forest was also represented by a junior squad containing Luke Barnett, Sam Maher, Nic Danby and Matt Brighton from Stourport Boat Club.

Crews from Bewdley and Stourport return to local action on Sunday, when they compete on the 4500m course in the Stourport Small Boats Head competition.

Over 200 crews will be competing in two divisions between 11am and 2pm and all the action can be viewed from Stourport's boathouse or town's bridge.