BRIDGNORTH rowers were in fine form at Shrewsbury Regatta on Saturday with a number of successes at the event, which drews crews from all across the country.
On Saturday, Daz Breakwell and Simon Kett competed at intermediate one level in the double sculls and took home the silverware by winning in the final against Liverpool Victoria.
Representing Bridgnorth in single sculls were Richard Mottram and Martin Brown, both competing at novice level. Martin performed particularly well on Sunday, winning two of his races to reach the semi-finals of the event, where he narrowly missed out on a place in the finals.
Also competing for the first time this season in the single scull at intermediate one level was Mike Payne, who put up strong opposition for his competition from Royal Chester.
Shrewsbury was the first regatta for Bridgnorth’s growing women’s squad, who gained valuable race experience. They entered two intermediate three coxed fours – Saturday’s crew being Liz Coalter, Rhiannon Jones, Leonie Hudson and Lucy Wycherley, who was racing for the first time.
Sunday gave new member Claire Taylor her first race in a crew with Rhiannon Jones, Leonie Hudson and Lucy Wycherley, coxed by Dale Bunning.
Also competing were the intermediate three coxless pair of Matt Nobbs and Jamie Manning, who saw the fruits of the training when they won their first race on Sunday against Cantabrigian. They held a comfortable lead from the start to finish well ahead of the opposition by the finish line.
Bridgnorth’s novice four competed on both days, winning their first race on Saturday against Hereford, and their first two races on Sunday to reach the final of the event.
The Bridgnorth crew of Martin Brown, Rich Pilsbury, Matt Pilsbury and John Allen coxed by Daz Breakwell faced Pengwern in the final, a crew who had beaten the Bridgnorth crew only two weeks earlier in Evesham. Despite history repeating itself the Bridgnorth crew were pleased to have narrowed the gap at the finish.
Sunday also saw Bridgnorth’s coxed eight competing against crews from Queens College and Royal Shrewsbury School. The eight was coxed by Becky Gibson and consisted of Richard Shropshire, Simon Kett, Matt Pilsbury, Ian Dick, James Griffin, Daz Breakwell and Matt Nobbs and guest rowers from Royal Chester Rowing Club and Royal Shrewsbury School.
Despite being the first time together as a crew, they finished only a canvas behind their opposition at the end of their second race.
Bridgnorth’s next competition will be its own regatta in Severn Park on June 12.