Windsor Boys School tight battle
Evesham Rowing Club hosted its annual Evesham Regatta last weekend with a high turnout of crews and large crowds enjoying the action.
The event on Saturday was over a 1000m course which started before the Abbey bridge with the finish line beyond the boathouse but before the Workman Bridge. The course, on the River Avon, has two bends to navigate hence the staggered start.
Hinksey Sculling School
The rowing started at 8:30 am and went through until well after 6:30 pm, with the racing having to be paused when pleasure craft and narrowboats wanted to traverse the course.
The event had a mixture of junior competitions with crews from schools and colleges competing against junior crews from rowing clubs. The crews came from a wide range of towns with local crews from Evesham & Worcester and towns such as Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick, and Gloucester. Further afield were crews from Pangbourne, Windsor, Bristol, Llandaff & Monmouth.
There were also events for more mature crews in all categories, so we had scullers, double scullers, quad scullers, coxed and coxless fours and eights.
Evesham RC sculler
For the coxless crews, steering was very important around the bends to minimise time loss, as well as not crashing into the shore or other river craft or crews waiting to go up the river to the start.
It was a day with mixed weather, with some sun but the temperatures were not high, with crews advised taking extra layers in case they were held at the starting area.
Evesham winning Double Scullers - Debbie Staite & Hazel Cabena
All crews were given hearty support, especially around the boat house and school gazebos lined up on the river bank, with some close finishes and battles up to the finish line.
Some battles were inter-team with both Pangbourne College and Windsor Boys School competing in heats against teammates.
Along the riverbank, a series of umpires and admin support meant the event ran smoothly, with umpires making sure crews started on their allocated station either boathouse or Workman gardens, as well as warning them of steering too close to the bank.
At the end of the event Pangbourne College came out on top with the most titles with 9, followed by AB Severn with 5, Monmouth RC with 4, and City of Bristol RC, Evesham RC, and Warwick BC with 3 wins each.
RGS Worcester prepare
