LAST weekend Bridgnorth Rowing Club made the short trip up the Severn to compete in what turned out to be a successful regatta weekend at Ironbridge.
The major successes were achieved by a number of members from the men’s and women’s squads who achieved their first ever wins in the sport.
Racing took place over a 1,000 metre course on the Saturday and 500 metres on the Sunday in perfect conditions for both rowers and spectators.
The first winning crew of the weekend was the intermediate 2 eight comprising of Matthew, Andrew and Richard Pilsbury, Patrick and Martin Brown, John Allen, Simon Kett and Daryl Breakwell and coxed by Emma Walker.
They overcame a more experienced Loughborough crew in the final of an abrasive race. This was a first win for John Allen, the Pilsbury brothers and Martin Brown who were given the traditional dousing in the Severn to mark the occasion.
The Bridgnorth women’s squad had a very successful weekend and continued the trend of first time wins
The new women’s intermediate 3 coxed four crew claimed their victory pots by beating Warwick in the semi-final and Worcester in the final of the 500m competition on Sunday.
Lucy Wycherley, who was rowing up a division, won her first ever pot, thereby losing her novice status while Australian Liz Coalter also claimed her first pot on English water. Their crew was completed by Rhiannon Jones, Leonie Hudson and cox Emma Walker.
Charlotte Jukes continued her fantastic run of success by winning both of her Junior 18 sculling events over the weekend. She beat competitors from Hollingworth Lake and Birmingham rowing clubs on Saturday.
On Sunday, her semi-final opponent scratched the race and Charlotte claimed victory by some distance in the final. Two other crews ended up beaten finalists in their event. Daryl Breakwell and Simon Kett competed in the intermediate 1 double sculls and lost to a good Warwick double.
Michael Payne also lost to Grosvenor in the intermediate 1 single sculls category.
Jamie Manning and Matthew Nobbs competed in intermediate 2 coxless pairs on both days. They were unlucky to loose in the final on Saturday after a controversial clash off the start, which led one of their oars being damaged.
A novice four comprising of Martin Brown, Richard Pilsbury, Matt Pilsbury and John Allen convincingly won their first two heats to reach the semi finals of the Saturday event, only being beaten by the eventual winners in the semi finals.
The Brown brothers Patrick and Martin also raced in a double together on the Sunday, loosing their first heat to Stourport. Patrick competed on both days in Intermediate 3 single sculls, losing the Saturday after a contested clash halfway down the course which spoilt what had been a close race up to that point.
The club will be competing next at Bewdley at the end of July and preparing for its ‘Fun Regatta’ where local teams are invited to give rowing a try and compete in a series of races that will take place in September.
PICTURE: The Bridgnorth intermediate eight crew winners with their awards at Ironbridge regatta, Pictured are John Allen, Martin Brown, Pat Brown, Matt Pilsbury, Rich Pilsbury, Simon Kett, Andy Pilsbury, Daz Breakwell and Emma Walker.