WYE rowers raced to a bumper haul of 26 event wins at their annual two-day Monmouth Regatta, as nearly 1,000 competitors launched out in 434 boats.

And in perhaps the most competitive Invitation 8s entry yet, City of Bristol and the intriguingly-named Las Vegas Institute of Sport took the men’s prize, while Nottingham Rowing Club took the women’s prize back to the Midlands.

Racing over 1500m in the men’s Phil Mathew Memorial 8s Trophy, named in honour of the regatta’s late commentator, Old Monmothians led Cardiff City to within sight of the line in their quarter final, only to be squeezed out by a third of a length, while Dart/Totnes saw off Cardiff University A by one-and-a-half lengths.

The Bristol composite, containing Monmouth-based dairy farmer and Henley medalist Ollie Partridge and Old Monmothian Alex Butler, accounted for Cardiff University B by four-and-a-half lengths, the same margin for Bath University over Swansea’s students.

Cardiff City then beat Dart by one-and-a-quarter lengths in the semis, while the Bristol boat were pushed to three-quarters of a length by Bath, before the composite took the spoils in the final.

Racing over 750m in the Alec Woods Ladies Plate 8s, named after Monmouth RC’s late president, Nottingham beat City of Swansea over 750m while Staines saw off Minerva Bath by three lengths to set up a Thames v Trent clash.

And the Midlanders, top-10 finishers in the Women’s Head in London in March and coached by Monmouth RC product Derek Atkins, took the honours in the final by one-and-a-half lengths.

In beautiful sunshine, and with big crowds on the bank, home crews also made a big splash at the sun-kissed Monmouthshire Building Society-sponsored event, Monmouth Comprehensive School winning 11 events, Monmouth School seven, and Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls and Monmouth RC four each.

The Comprehensive School’s wins all came over 1500m on day one and included five quadruple scull triumphs.

Martha Waterstone, Cassie de st Croix, Mia Boycott and Sophie Richards took girls’ under 16 coxless quads by two lengths from Hereford, while Waterstone and Richards, joined by Anna Moore, Molly Mills and cox Taryn Birkett, landed the coxed equivalent from Monmouth RC.

U15 boys’ crew Josh Bicknell, Tom Smith, Tom Heath, Rob Williams and cox Emily Dalrymple were much too fast for Staines, and under 14s James Arnett, Oliver Chilcott, Lewis McNally, David Johnston and cox Cassie de st Croix, also beat the Thames outfit by 1 and-three-quarter lengths.

Under 14 girls Arwen van der Horst, Alison Dullforce, Harriet Kearsey, Anna Crossley and cox Darcy Birkett beat Staines on their way to a four-length final win over a crew of clubmates.

And Harry Dalrymple and David Newman took the top IM1 men’s pair prize by three lengths from Gloucester and four lengths from Bath University in the final, while Tom Brice and Louis Proctor won under 16 doubles from Staines, and David Johnston and Oliver Chilcott under 14 doubles by two-and-a-half lengths from Gloucester.

Katie Kearsey impressively doubled up with under 16 singles victory and under 15 success, both by comfortable margins from Gloucester opposition, and Arwen van der Horst also saw off her under 14 final opponent from Dart.

Monmouth School and HMSG launched out on day two in the 750m sprint event after returning from the National Schools Regatta in London the day before.

The former’s Tim Sheen, Jasper Ray, James Baker, Matt Crane, Jack Macfarlane, Louis Robinson, George Bettley, Peter Richards and cox Josh Kershaw took IM3 8s by two-and-a-half lengths from Bristol Ariel/City of Bristol, while Archie Hilder and Sam White added the IM3 doubles prize with wins over Staines, Cardiff City and their club-mates by one length in the final.

And their single scullers scored a high five of trophies, Rory Freeman beating club-mate Harris Webb by one length to the IM1 title and Bewdley by two-and-a-half lengths to the IM2 crown, Hilder adding IM3 from a nine-boat field by one length from doubles partner White, Harry Bridges taking the novice final by three lengths from City of Swansea and Tim Sheen adding the under 16 title by just a canvas from Cardiff City.

Two sets of sisters were among the Haberdashers’ winners, Josephine Frankel and Gabrielle Du Toit winning women’s IM3 fours by four-and-a-half lengths from City of Oxford with Hannah Lincoln, Pippa England and cox Hannah Green, while siblings Sophia Frankel and Stephanie Du Toit added the girls’ under 14 sprint doubles by three lengths from Cardiff and Vale.

Alec Atoch, Catrin Werret, Abigail Potter, Fay Balgborough and cox Green again won women’s novice fours by four lengths from Bristol Ariel, and Pippa England took women’s novice singles by two-and-a-half lengths from clubmate Lincoln.

Monmouth RC’s Fin Waters was unstoppable in his single, taking the under 14 1500m event by three lengths from Gloucester, then the sprint event the following day by three-and-a-half lengths from Cardiff and Vale. Club-mate Kirsten Challis added girls’ U18 singles by three lengths from the same club, and doublers Naomi Clarke and Ieuan Griffiths beat Bewdley to the mixed IM3 title.  

Full results are available at www.monmouthrc.org.uk/ with more race pictures at www.facebook.com/MonmouthRC/