MONMOUTH Rowing Club undertook a return trip to the River Severn for last weekend’s Stourport Regatta, reports COLIN LEWIS.

On Saturday, nine crews raced on the 1,100m course, with the experienced men’s Masters E coxless four (over 55) crew of Mark Stewart-Woods, Nick Hooton, Colin Lewis and James Allison proving two lengths too powerful for their Worcester opponents.

An experimental line up of Allison, Eric Froggatt, Alex Mitchell and Scott Hazeldine raced in the ME quadruple scull, and some steering issues when racing against local rivals Hereford resulted in an agreed re-row which Monmouth won.

In their final, older opponents Worcester had a handicap head start and managed to hold on to claim the win.

As a warm-up for the forthcoming World Masters Regatta in September in Libourne, France, the experienced pair of Stewart-Woods and Hooton raced to victory over home club Stourport in the pairs.

The women’s masters boat of Louise Allison, Dawn Brace, Kate Hooton and Liz Lewis had to race London outfit Furnivall in senior women’s fours owing to a lack of veteran opposition.

And in an exciting race, including a clash of blades as the London club’s steering went array, Furnival were disqualified, handing the victory to Monmouth.

Ewart Birkett, Harry Beech, club captains Darren Cooper and Geoff Hitt, coxed by debutant P J Pompl, took on a much younger home crew from Stourport, with the hosts triumphing.

The women’s 8 of Kate Hooton, Sara Part, Helen Tilley, debutante Bonita Birkett, Jan Watkins, Sarah Cripps, Jayne Smith, Amanda Snelson and cox Liz Lewis, the ladies captain, had a great race against Worcester.

But despite a late charge the Wye boat had to give second best.

Former Wyedean School pupil Stuart Bruton, who has been rowing at De Montfort University took on a very experienced Upper Thames sculler in the men’s singles, and despite pushing all the way the Henley oarsman took the spoils.

The women’s F four (over 60) of Jayne Smith, Sara Part, Helen Tilley, Amanda Snelson and cox Jan Watkins had to race in a younger Worcester crew in the E class, and narrowly missed out.

In Sunday 650m sprint, club coach Tim Male selected 12 crews.

A change from Saturday’s men’s E quad saw Harding replace Allison, but despite a great push they were eventually beaten by Burton Leander.

Husband and wife pair Jamie and Kathryn Diserens raced against the all-male pair from Hereford, but the youngsters, fresh from success with Wales and the National Schools’s Regatta proved too powerful, winning by a couple of lengths.

A new look women’s E4 [average age over 55] of Hooton, Brace, Watkins, Sheron Dean-Lucas and cox Liz Lewis, suffered an equipment malfunction which saw Worcester ease to victory.

In a low points fours event, Birkett, Hitt, Cooper, Beech and cox Pompl, lost out to Worcester, while a women’s quad of Allison Hazledine, Cripps, Birkett, Allison and cox Pompl looked very strong for the first half of their race, but a lack of experience meant their opponents were able to push past and win.

Next up was a men’s 8, competing at senior despite being mainly masters against Hereford.

The experienced crew of Stewart-Woods, Hooton, Diserens, Bruton, Male, Allison, Lewis, Peter Kelsall and cox Kathryn Diserens were able to get a lead early in the race, which they held onto despite being challenged.

The women’s E quad of Brace, Watkins, Birkett and Dean-Lucas gave a good account of themselves but were unable to match the power of the crew from Evesham.

Froggatt and Mitchell in raced against Pengwern, and despite some very good technique were beaten by the Shrewsbury club.

An exciting looking double of Athens Olympian Male and youngster Bruton won their quarter final quite comfortably, and repeated the result in the semi-final.

In the final, up against a strong looking Gloucester double, a missed stroke gave their rivals an advantage which they held onto to claim the win.

A scratch mixed E quad of Harding, Cripps, and husband and wife duo Alison and Scott Hazledine started well, and stayed strong against their opponents from Loughborough to claim the win.

Much to the delight of the supporters, Cripps was able to claim a second pot at her second regatta while Harding managed a success he has been waiting 30 years for.