Encouraging Results ... 1976

Two fine results for Stourport were achieved at Reading Head were achieved last weekend when an elite/veteran eight tied for first place in their division, and the senior eight gained the club's highest position at this event.
The senior crew's result, 30th of 88, was all the more commemorable in that half the crew were under 18, and another two have only recently returned to full training. Starting one ahead of a strong King's School Worcester crew they were under extreme pressure from the word "go", surrendering 5 seconds of their lead before a strong finishing spell gave them an eventual winning margin of 8 seconds. Although 5th in the Senior A division, they beat many Elite crews, and there is no doubt that the two constituent halves of this eight will split into two powerful units in their respective divisions.
The elite/veteran eight had to make a last minute substitution owing to absence, bringing in the injured captain, Fred Caswill, to row with a suspected broken rib. Despite this handicap the crew rowed above everyone's expectations to capture first equal with Maidenhead, their time of 18.10 being 1 min 52 sec behind the senior crew. This is the first veteran eight that has made more than two outings together, and in fact can be seen on the water every weekend.
These eights will be joined by a third for the trip down to the London Head of the River in one week's time, when it is hoped that the club will continue its excellent start to the centenary year.
Crew names:
1st Eight: bow, M.Daglish; 2, D.Gwilliam; 3, M.Cook; 4, S.Downes; 5, P.Downes; 6, K.Barwise; 7, P.Lashford; stroke, M.Edmonds; cox, M.Reeley.
Elite/Veteran Eight: bow, R.Eaton; 2, F.Caswill (sub); 3, B.Bailey; 4, T.Cherry; 5, B.Griffin; 6, G.Davies; 7, H.Hodgkinson; stroke, D.Pearson; cox, C.Reeley.
R. Lloyd March 1976