THERE were impressive Stratford Boat Club performances at the opening head race of the new season on the Thames in Oxfordshire.
The Wallingford Long Distance Sculls, held over 4.25km, attracts top level scullers from around the region and Stratford fielded crews across the age ranges.
The Stratford J15 double scull of Alice Baines and Mya Kenny delivered a masterful sculling performance to win their event.
During the competition there were further superb performances from Amelie Sartain in the J14 single scull event as she battled hard to take second place, well ahead of the rest of the field.
Fred Tyler fought hard in the J14 single scull event but was eventually forced into second place by a quality sculler from Lea Rowing Club.
The double scull of Max Griffiths and Dan Cox were also worthy of note as, whilst coming third in their event, they recorded the sixth fastest time of the day on the shorter 1,500m course, thus demonstrating the quality of competition at the season opener.
Taking a rest from their exertions on Friday, Richard Field and Nathan Elton both raced in the Joint Services Regatta.
Elton won in a senior eight and also won his heat before finishing second in the final of the novice singles to a very experienced opponent.
Elsewhere, Christine Goodwin compete in the Senior Women’s 1x at Monmouth Head as one of 11 women racing in this boat category over three categories.
Goodwin gained on the category one rower who started ahead of her and succeeded in winning her category two with a very creditable time of 8:53 minutes over the 2,500m course.
Coach Helen Smith said: “This is another great start to the head racing season.”
