SBC Fail to Break Jinx ... 1974

Last weekend's rowing saw Stourport unable to break the run of losing finals that goes back to the middle of May.
Llandaff Regatta, rowed over the shortest course in the rowing calendar, saw the Senior C Four race through to a final placing against Evesham Rowing Club. In the first heat Stourport came through from behind to beat Gloucester, putting them in the semi final against Llandaff, the host club, Stourport got away to a better start and led comfortably at the finish. In the final they led Evesham off the stake boats but could not hold their opponent's pqwerful finishing burst, losing a very exciting race by 2 feet.
Richard Lloyd won a place in the final of Novice Sculls by beating Llandaff 'C', Mumbles and Stratford 'B' by verdicts of easily, 4 lengths and 3 lengths respectively, although his steering was always a little erratic. In the final, against Evesham, again Richard's steering allowed his opponent to grab an early leadwhich he did not lose, the final verdict being 2 1/4 lengths.
Stourport's Novice Four entry rowed well but were beaten by a young crew from Monmouth School, the verdict being 1/4 length.
Last Sunday saw some good racing at Burton-on-Trent Regatta. Stourport were well represented, and at one point looked certain of some reward for their efforts. Both Novice Fours entered won their first heats easily and looked certain to progress through to the semi finals, but this was not to be. The 'B' crew met the eventual winners from Loughborough and lost easily while the 'A' crew were defeated by Merchant Taylor's School, the verdict being 3 lengths. Richard Lloyd, still chasing an elusive Novice Sculling 'pot' lost first heat to a veteran sculler from Nottingham Boat Club. After a close race in which Richard led for the first 750 metres, the final result was a verdict of 3/4 length in a time 6 seconds faster than all the other quarter finals, although his opponent lost in the final.
Having lost two finals on the previous day the club were determined not to repeat this, and in their earlier races the Senior C Four looked capable of breaking the run of losing finals. In their first race Trent were left well behind after 500 metres, Stourport winning easily. The second round saw a similar performance against St.Neots putting Stourport into a 'local derby' semi final with Bewdley Rowing Club. After an exciting race Stourport crossed the line some 3/4 length in front with a time of 3.44, exactly the same as Royal Shrewsbury School who won the other semi finalfrom Hereford Rowing Club. The final became a repeat of so many races the crew has had this season. Shrewsbury had a length lead by halfway but were never able to increase this, the Stourport four fighting right through to the finish. The verdict was 3/4 length, and the time of 3.42 was the fastest for the event.
Immediately after this final, both crews returned to the start in their respective eights for the final of Senior C Eights. Stourport knew they had an almost impossible task to beat this well trained schoolboy crew after they themselves had had only one outing, but despite this disadvantage they raced well. Shrewsbury had a lead of just under a length by half way which they increased to 2 1/2 lengths at the finish.
Also competing at Burton was Tom Edwards in Senior B Sculls, where he met that revered club member and captain of Quitnin Boat Club, Graham Lloyd. The race was an exciting one in which the scullers remained perilously close together in the centre of the river, never more than a length separating them. Graham eventually won by 3/4 length but lost next heat to a Hereford sculler.
Senior C Four finalists at Llandaff and Burton: M.Edmonds, P.Lashford, K.Barwise, P.Downes, coxes M.Cook and C.Reeley.
Joined in the eight at Burton by E.Mol, F.Caswill, C.Munn and D.Parton.
Novice Four at Llandaff and Burton: M.Cook, P.Bettis, G.Handley, J.Timmins, cox M.Reeley.
Novice Four at Burton: P.Roberts, N.Davies, M.Bishop, P.Tongue, cox Kevin
Scullers: T.Edwards and R.Lloyd.
R. Lloyd Report July 1974