Stratford upon Avon Boat Club hosts successful Boxing Day regatta

Fifty members of Stratford upon Avon Boat Club took to the water to blow away the indulgences of Christmas at the Boxing Day scratch regatta

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Stratford upon Avon Boat Club Boxing Day scratch regatta

Stratford upon Avon Boat Club’s annual scratch regatta took place early on Boxing Day morning and over fifty members managed to leave their beds after the overindulgence of the Christmas festivities. The crews were supported by friends and relatives who came down to the river to watch the spectacle and cheer on the crews.

“This year the scratch regatta had each crew racing in two races. The crews were selected from Junior, Senior and Masters squads to ensure close and exciting racing,” said coach Helen Smith, joint organiser. “All races were over a short sprint course from the Ferry to the Club grounds on the Town stretch of the River Avon.”

The racing provided great interest to early morning sightseers and visitors watching from the Recreation Ground, The Royal Shakespeare Terrace, Bancroft Gardens and The Tramway Bridge.

Dawson Curnock, Chairman of Stratford upon Avon Boat Club, said: “The scratch regatta caught the imagination of all that came down to the river and gave us added impetus to move further ahead for fundraising in 2018 to achieve the funds to refurbish and replace our fleet and equipment.”

Stratford upon Avon Boat Club will be back on the river later this week and after the New Year will be training for the 2018 head season, the Senior squad’s entry at Henley Royal Regatta and their own regatta in June.