ROWING - Stratford-upon-Avon Boat Club members celebrate awards - The Stratford Observer

ROWING - Stratford-upon-Avon Boat Club members celebrate awards

Stratford Editorial 7th Jun, 2022 Updated: 10th Jun, 2022   0

STRATFORD-upon-Avon Boat Club recognised members’ ‘Personalities of the Year’ with awards voted on by all the coaches at the club.

The pots for the awards were donated by Felix Badcock’s (immediate Past President) wife Jane from the vast collection that Felix had amassed over many years of competitive rowing which gave the awards special provenance and significance.

The Junior Felix Award was presented to Martha Usselmann. Her citation read: “Martha has assisted with every session of the Participation Group since the Autumn.

“She has developed a good relationship with the athletes and provides excellent technical input and coaching on land and on water.”




The Senior Felix Award for 2022 went to Paul Beardmore. His citation read: “Paul is a regular, constant and reliable helper with the adaptive, progression and daytime rower squads, getting boats ready for the adaptive rowers and helping the athletes into their boats and crewing on the safety launch.

“In addition, Paul is always willing to help in other duties such as jet washing and cleaning the launches, jet washing the boating areas and other maintenance tasks.”


Dawson Curnock, Chairman of Stratford Boat Club said: “Stratford Boat Club is built on the ethos of volunteering and Martha and Paul exemplify this in bucket loads.

“It is heartening to see more volunteers stepping forward to help with our regatta in a couple of weeks’ time on Saturday, June 18 and many helpers have also signed up to become qualified launch drivers to assist our coaches and ensure the safety of our members whilst out on the water.”

The week also started well for the club’s Head Adaptive Coach Mark Dewdney who was presented with Mayor’s Award 2021/2022 by Cllr Kevin Taylor, the outgoing Mayor of Stratford-upon-Avon.

Cllr Taylor said, “This was one of the last and most pleasurable tasks that I undertook whilst I was still in office, and this was to present my Mayor’s Award 2021/2022 to someone I believe has got that little extra when it comes to community spirit.

“Mark is a truly inspirational character with a vision of creating an incredibly inclusive and important section of a great sporting club.

“He works tirelessly to deliver and although now supported by a very willing number of dedicated volunteers, without his vision drive and enthusiasm this would have never happened.

“Volunteers such as Mark are critical in the delivery of projects in the area: they are the catalysts in delivering programmes such as this.

“Well done, Mark: this award is incredibly well deserved!”

Paul Stanton, Stratford Boat Club’s President said: “Mark continues to inspire all around with his tireless efforts with the adaptive squad not only within Stratford but nationally where Stratford’s adaptive squad has become an exemplar for disabled sport.”

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