STRATFORD Boat Club’s mixed masters E crew of Kjersti Rogneflaten-Woolley and Thomas Doherty continued their ongoing personal battle with Derwent Rowing Club over the weekend at Stourport Regatta.
The two-day event provided challenging racing over 1,100m on Saturday and 650m sprint racing on Sunday and attracted a high quality field including clubs from London and the north of England, watched by a large and vocal crowd on both days.
Stratford were again drawn against National Championship medallists Derwent on both days, having raced them previously over two days at Bewdley.
On the Saturday, racing over the long course with a tailwind and stream which produced a fast race, Derwent powered off the start to take a length’s lead by halfway.
A strong push by Stratford saw them close the gap but just fade away at the finish to lose by just over a length.
In the sprint race on the Sunday, a change of tactics saw Stratford storm off the start, rating 40 strokes a minute and holding a high tempo narrow lead for the majority of the race, rating 37 strokes a minute throughout.
In an exciting finish cheered on by the watching crowds, Derwent just made their experience tell to pinch victory by half a length.
Rogneflaten-Woolley said: “This was our best race yet against a quality crew which demonstrates our continued improvement as we prepare for the World Masters in Copenhagen in a month’s time.”
