Biggest rowing event in Bedford attracts competitor from USA

 

Local rowers will be out in force on Sunday 11th April at Bedford Rowing Club’s annual Spring Fours & Small Boats Head of the River Race.  The event is run as a time-trial over a 2,000 metre downstream stretch of the River Great Ouse, from Queens Park to just past the Butterfly Bridge.  Racing is due to start at 9.15 on Sunday morning with groups of boats going off every 75 minutes.

Over 500 entries have been received from over 46 clubs of which 452 crews have been accepted, in a range of categories from under 14 to over 70, beginner to Elite.  Bedford Rowing Club has had to close the entry list early due to over-subscription making this the biggest ever event in the 150 years of rowing in Bedford, and in the 147th year of Bedford Amateur Regatta.  There are 46 separate categories, of which the most hotly contested is Men’s Novice Coxed Fours with 24 entries.   

Host club Bedford Rowing Club is fielding over 25 crews from all the squads.  Local clubs entered include Star Club, Dame Alice Harpur School, Bedford High School and Northampton Rowing Club.  From further afield there are entries from Monmouth Rowing Club, Hereford Rowing Club, Bradford Rowing Club and Medway Towns Rowing Club, and racing in a composite crew with Peterborough City RC is a junior sculler from Dallas RC, USA.  

Details of the running order, including blade colours to aid crew recognition, can be found at www.bedfordrowing.co.uk so please come along and support your local crews.  Programmes and results on the day will be available at Bedford Rowing Club in Duckmill Lane, next to the Park Inn Hotel.