Second Ever Coxless Fours Win ... 1974

Stourport Boat Club beat Thames Tradesmen to take the Senior B Coxless Fours trophy away from Hammersmith Regatta, the first time a non-tideway club has won this event.
Rowing in appalling conditions produced by last Saturday's high winds, the Stourport crew were drawn on the less favourable of the two stations, and were one length down at halfway. Fighting hard against two foot waves, their better oarsmanship began to tell, and when Thames Tradesmen crabbed badly in the last 100 metres Stourport snatched a lead they did not lose. A final verdict of 3/4 length proved Stourport's superior ability, being the only crew to win a final on this station.
The four also made up the stern section of a Senior B Eight, unchanged since tyheir success at Stourport Regatta. A three lane final saw them line up against City of Oxford and Crowland. Stourport led for the first 2 1/2 minutes, and looked likely winners when the strokeman lost his blade in the rough conditions allowing firstly Crowlanfd and then Oxford to slip by in the last 20 strokes.
Stourport's Novice Four were drawn on the bad station in their first heat against Eton Mission, and were unlucky to lose to this powerful crew. Pulling back with each stroke during the last minute, only the appalling conditions stopped them getting a nose in front.
In lightweight Novice Sculls, Richard Lloyd beat Crowland in his first heat, but was drawn on the wrong station in the final against Thames Tradesmen and London Transport, this order prevailing over the line.
Winners Senior B Coxless Four: M.Edmonds, P.Downes(steers), P.Lashford, E.Mol.
Senior B Eight: D.Parton, F.Caswill, C.Munn, K.Barwise, P.Lashford, M.Edmonds, E.Mol, P.Downes, cox C.Reeley.
Novice Four: P.Bettis, M.Bishop, G.Handley, J.Timmins, cox M.Reeley
Novice Sculls: R.Lloyd
R. Lloyd Report Sept 1974