Worcester Head of the River - Saturday 18th February 2012
Four Hereford Rowing Club crews took part in the 6000m Worcester Head of the River Race on Saturday 18th February, in a field of 100 crews. The HRC Masters I coxless quad, and both IM2 and IM3 men's eights were all placed second in their categories. The women's IM3 eight came third. All 3 eights crews again comprised a mixture of youth and expperience with juniors and seniors combined in each boat. This race was a key training event for the 3 HRC eights crews, in preparation for the 6800m Head of the River races on Thames Tideway Championship course in London which take place in March.
Stourport Winter Head of the River - Sunday 29th January 2012
Hereford crews were amongst a field of 120 at the 4500m Stourport Winter Head of the River on Sunday 29th January. In freezing conditions, Hereford RC came out as the most successful club in the event winning 7 out of 9 competitive events. Fielding an impressive 5 Eights as well as 2 fours, 3 doubles and 2 single entries, Hereford were the 2nd fastest crew of the day winning the Open Intermediate 2 class
The winning Hereford crew comprised a mixture of youth and experience with 3 of their junior members: Ed Rees (Bishops School) and twins Tom & Stephen Griffiths (Hereford 6th Form College) teaming up with senior members James Ford, Ben Botwright, John Moore, Tristram Lee-Jones and captain Jim Williams as well as Emma Adams (Hereford 6th Form College) cracking the whip in the cox’s seat.
The Hereford Juniors had already raced with the other club juniors in the morning division to win the Open Intermediate 3 category. The crew of Ed Rees, Stephen Griffiths, Tom Griffiths with Ben Botwright, Adam de Bell, Simon Calverley (both at Hereford 6th Form College), Henry Llewellin (Lucton School), Matthew Kettyle (Bishops School) coxed by Emma Adams narrowly pipped the senior crew of Jim Williams, Tristram Lee-Jones, Kevin Yau, Ren Crouse, Stuart Rowney, John Moore, Andy Marlow & Russell Williams coxed by Jordan Williams by 3 seconds.
Not to be outdone by the relative youngsters, Hereford’s veteran coxless four of Phil Hart, Richard Bissell, Keith Lawrance & Rod Phillips won their Masters C category.
Then it was the turn of the real youngsters - girls and boys. Tom Snell & George Davies (St Marys High School) managed to overcome waiting for what seemed like hours at the start to overtake all their opposition before the finish of the timer trial and so guarantee victory in the J15 double sculls event. Of course, anything the boys could do, so could the girls and Eleanor Scott (Bishops School) and Charlotte Hodgkins-Byrne (Hereford Cathedral School) teamed up to storm the equivalent girls J15 event.
This just left older sister Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne to show how to do things all by yourself – and twice. Mathilda, who is preparing for trials for the GB junior team rowed in the J17 single scull event in the first division and despite the arctic conditions, got back in the boat less than an hour later to race again in the Women’s intermediate 2 event. Of course in keeping with Hereford’s winning streak this day she won both events in formidable style.
Hereford’s women also put in an excellent performance. Once again the combination of juniors and seniors worked well and the crew of Lee Hawkins, Paula Ingram, Izzy Hancock, Caitlin Bissell, Adele Llewellin, Angela Tempany, Kate Hatch and Rosie Snell coxed by Chloe Willimont tied in second place with Bewdley and only 17 seconds behind the winning VIII from Ironbridge.
Monmouth Winter Head - Sunday 11th December 2011
Despite the height of the river Wye on Friday levels dropped enough to allow racing to go ahead at the Xmas Head at Monmouth on Sunday. The stream was fast and the wind strong but Hereford rowing club senior and junior squad had an enjoyable days racing at the 2,250 m long event, which was very well run despite the high numbers of entries.
West of England University’s Elite 8 posted the fastest time of the day with 6.03.6 mins. Trentham BC reigned number 1 in most of the categories entered by HRC.
In the morning division the HRC J16 2x double scull, stroked by Ed Rees achieved the best HRC time, 7:30.7 mins, placing them 27 out of 85 entries overall.
In the afternoon division the HRC J18 2x double scull, stroked by Miss Hodgkins-Byrne achieved the only HRC category win of the day with 8:14.8 mins
Full results can be found at www.monmouthrc.org uk
Ball Cup -Dorney Lake 7th May 2011
Hereford Juniors Success on Course for Olympics
Hereford Rowing Club juniors travelled to Windsor on Sunday to race in the Ball Cup on Dorney Lake - the venue for rowing in the London 2012 Olympics. For most of them it was their first race on a multi-lane course where up to 6 crews race at once instead of just 2 side by side in river racing.
Stephen Griffiths had the early start racing at 8:25 in the morning and after a tough heat in windy conditions, managed a silver medal in the final of under 16 single sculls. He then joined twin brother Tom, Lloyd Wyer and Ollie Campbell together with cox Jake Morris in a junior coxed four. Under very difficult cross wind conditions and a tricky start they narrowly missed bronze medal coming 4th. In the very next race the girls junior quadruple scull of Caitlin Bissell, Rosie Snell, Izzy Hancock and Leah Costello had an upset when the crew in the next lane crashed into them. Fortunately on the restart they avoided further mishaps and after a strong start managed to hold on for the bronze medal.
Ed Rees was next in the under 15 single sculls. Following a comfortable win in his heat, he had a tougher race in the final. He got off to a good start but was put under pressure towards the end - and it took a photo-finish to confirm that he successfully won the gold medal. Twins Tom & Steve Griffiths joined forces again in the under 16 double sculls event and came second in the fastest of three heats putting them in one of the pole positions in the final. After an extremely strong start they and a crew from Lea Rowing Club in London were clear of the rest of the field and despite several strong pushes had to settle for silver medal - a great performance nonetheless after 3 races already in the day.
Finally the girls split up into 2 double sculls. Leah Costello and Izzy Hancock made a brave third place in their heat narrowly missing the final while Rosie Snell and Caitlin Bissell just managed to make it through to the final. But despite their best efforts in a close fought race they were unable make the medals.
This was Hereford RC's first return to the Ball Cup after many years and with a gold, 2 silvers and bronze medals and a fourth place, the crews were delighted with their performances under very difficult conditions. London 2012 may be too soon for these youngsters, but who knows what this visit to the Olympic course may inspire in the future?
In the photo above are the juniors from Hereford Sixth Form College, Bishop's School, Hereford Cathedral School and Herefordshire College of Technology. Left to right: Izzy Hancock, Rosie Snell, Ed Rees, Ollie Campbell, Caitlin Bissell, Stephen Griffiths, Leah Costello, Lloyd Wyer, Thomas Griffiths and cox Jake Morris in front.
Evesham Regatta and Sprint April 30th and May 1st 2011
Hereford Rowing Club sent a contingent from Hereford to the first regatta of the Summer racing season hosted by Evesham Rowing Club this Bank Holiday weekend.
The Saturday was a 1000m upstream course and Sunday was a 500m sprint.
The club had various entries over both days but none so hotly contested as the very special event on the Sunday in the form of a Special Commemorative Royal Wedding Mixed 4s sprint event with a luxury hamper at stake - but the crews had to wear appropriate dress code: Top hat and Bow Ties for the men and Tiaras for the ladies!
Hereford duly took the challenge seriously and entered two mixed IM1 4s for the event, and both crews got well into the spirit of things, adorning themselves (and their boats) with an array of union jacks and other finery (the HRC racing colours of Red, White and Blue co-ordinating very well with this event!) In the round robin elimination rounds, both Hereford 4s ended up in the final against each other, so with a guaranteed Hereford win, it was all about who would get the luxury Hampers... after a close race, the crew of Catherine Preedy, Kay Parker, Andy Marlow and Tris Lee-Jones coxed by James Ford (in a very fetching admiral's cap) just got themselves over the line first to scoop the prize. (But it was fair to say both Hereford crews had the fancy dress well and truly in order!)
(The other win of the weekend went to the Masters D 4+ of Phil Hart, Richard Bissell, Rod Phillips and Keith Lawrence coxed by Robin Morris on the Saturday 1000m course.
Well done to all club entrants - and welcome to all the new learn to Row Contingent recently started at Hereford including many from the fun regatta - competitors of the future?!)
The photo below shows the 2 Royal Wedding Mixed 4 crews in all their finery....
L-R: Bob Freeman, Hayley Birch, Paula Ingram, Pete Knight, Catherine Preedy, Kay Parker, Tris Lee-Jones and Andy Marlow. (in front, coxes Jake Morris and James Ford) for more Evesham photos clik on the Gallery.
Stourport Sprint Regatta 15th August 2010
The winning then continued on Sunday on the 600m short course with Clare Fenton this time wearing her coach and cox's hat to see all her Novice squad members winning their events. These Novices all started on the Learn to Row Course in January and in such a short space of time have trained together to successfully bring home their first winners pots this weekend - it was thanks to grants from Sport England to purchase new training boats that allowed us to have such a big intake and those boats have proved they're worth every penny with some ecstatic winners on Sunday. In the Men's Novice Coxed 4 were Philip Bouchier, Mike Price, Ben Botwright and Sean Bailey coxed by Clare Fenton. Clare also coxed her novice women to victory, well done to crew members Carly Perry, Tess Vandenberg, Sara Kirby, Sam Morris, Sarah Lillie, Kim Gristy, Laura Lawrence and Laura Phelps who looked every bit like they belonged on the water in the Women's Novice Coxed 8s event.
We are now nearly at the end of the season but it has been, without doubt, one of the best regattas for the number of Hereford Club member wins for a long time. There were other crews racing who only lost out narrowly in their events but all the performances over the weekend were a credit to the club with members from the Junior, Veteran, Men's and Women's crews all racing. Club captain Robin Morris would like to extend his proud congratulations to all the rowers, coaches and coxes involved. Next stop, Ross on the Bank Holiday weekend!
Stourport Regatta 14th August 2010
Hereford Rowing Club competed at Stourport Regatta & Sprint on 14th and 15th August 2010 and notched up the best weekend of wins for the entire season so far, with some superb performances recognising the training and efforts all the squad members have been putting in.
On the Saturday the crews raced over the long course of 1100m with wins for the Women Masters B double scull for Clare Fenton and Alex Champ in a straight final with a great performance in a close race against Mortlake. Stephen Griffiths continued his recent winning streak in the J15 Single Scull category, while fellow Junior Squad Member Dan Hart won the J18 single scull. Dan then teamed up with fellow novice adult rowers Lloyd Wyer, Andy Marlow and John Moore and cox Robin Morris in the Novice Men's Coxed 4s event. After having a win snatched from them recently due to a faulty fin on their boat, this time they were determined to make up for it and tore through two races to finally win their novices.
Coach Trevor Pretty was then handed a double victory when his IM2 Men's crew of Jim Williams, Renier Crouse, Kevin Yau and Tristram Lee-Jones coxed by Jim's daughter Jordan Williams replicated their recent success at Bewdley with another fine performance over two races to take the IM2 Open Coxed 4s title. The IM2 Men were racing in a Hereford Club Boat named after long standing club stalwart Arthur Ford. Poignantly Mr Ford sadly passed away on the 31st July, the weekend after the crew had their first win at Bewdley and they were proud to win again this weekend in the boat named after such a dedicated Hereford Rowing Club Member. The IM2 Men's crew were also privileged to have their photo taken at the presentations with rowing legend Sir Steve Redgrave who was spectating at Stourport.
Henley Veterans Regatta 9th& 10th July 2010
Hereford Rowing Club returned from the prestigious Henley Veteran Regatta with three Gold Medals. The event attended by crews from all over the world is the highlight of Masters Rowing in Great Britain.
The first success came from the Men's Masters D Coxed Four (avreage age 50) of Rod Phillips, Keith Lawrence, Richard Bissell, Phil Hart and cox Sue Bissell who beat Ross Rowing Club in the final by 3/4 length. The second success came from the Women's Masters C Coxed Four (average age 43) of Veronica Preedy, Clare Fenton, Alex Champ, Helen Phillips and cox Robin Morris exacting revenge on Barnes Bridge Ladies RC, the crew who beat them last year. The third medal came from the Masters I Double Scull (average age 75) of Ben Bentley-Leek and Hugh Davies who beat York City by 4 lengths. All three crews mirroring their success in the British Masters Championships.
The other Hereford competitors although they didn't win, fared well in tough competition. The Masters E Eight (average age 55) of Frank Ford, Rod Minchin, Mike Gardiner, Nigel Birch, Bob Freeman, Pete Knight, Mark Fenton, Dominic Churcher coxed by Clare Fenton beat last years winners Crabtree in the first round but lost out narrowly to the eventual event winners Wallingford in the next. In the Masters G Coxless Fours (average age 65) Frank Ford, Hugh Davis, Bob Freeman and Pete Knight also lost out by 2/3 length to the eventual winners Occoquan/Tideway Scullers composite which included in the crew ex-Hereford oarsman Andy Kapica. Mark Beddoes and Mick Massam lost out to a strong crew from Melbourne University, Australia in Masters F Coxless Pairs (average age 60).
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