STRATFORD-upon-Avon Boat Club’s adaptive squad dominated at the Maidenhead Regatta to win four of the five events they entered.
They were competing against four other clubs, who all won one event apiece, as Stratford’s adaptive squad proved their class.
And Andy Morris ensured Stratford made a winning start, despite his opponent from Oxford being handed a 20-second head start, as he clawed back the deficit to claim victory in his singles final by four lengths.
Rob Pedley repeated the trick in his final against a sculler from Belfast, in his first event, as he won by a few lengths despite starting 20 seconds after his opponent.
There was an all-Stratford final in the next event as newcomer Dan Browne faced off against the more experienced Gillian Middleton in the mixed ability doubles/pairs.
And Browne, alongside his steerer Joe Moore, made the most of the head start he was given to remain in the lead and claim his first victory.
Stratford’s final win came in another mixed ability doubles/pairs event as Dan Godefroy and Jake Blatcher took on a Lagan and Maidenhead combined crew.
And the Stratford pair rowed smoothly down the whole course to draw applause from the watching spectators in a display of what looked like effortless rowing.
Pedley also kindly agreed to race against a Marlow sculler who otherwise would not have had an opponent.
A tremendous race ensued with the experience and technique of the Marlow rower pitted against the brawn of the Stratford man with the former triumphing by a few lengths.
Stratford Boat Club’s Head Adaptive Coach Mark Dewdney said: “We are pretty happy with the outcome. It has been a while since our last event and I was concerned we would be a bit rusty.
“We are off to Oxford Regatta in a fortnight and hope for similar results!”
Lastly, Blatcher attended and raced in both his single and as a support rower with some of his adaptive colleagues.
In his first race, his opponent from Reading University took an early lead only to close the gap and eventually row to victory after his opponent capsized under pressure.
Blatcher’s second race was against a large sculler from Ardingly and he was beaten by just a quarter of a length in an epic encounter.
