First Time Win ... 1976

The centenary year started in the best possible way for Stourport Boat Club, when a Senior A Four won the Open Shell Fours Division of the Gloucester Head last weekend.
The crew: bow, Phil Downes; 2, Richard Lloyd; 3, Keith Barwise; stroke, Tom Edwards and cox Martin Reeley had only decided to enter the week before and so boated on race day for the very first time. Conditions were not good as a following breeze aggravated the already choppy water due to the eights division starting just prior to the fours. However the time of 16.57 for the 4500 course compares favourably with previous years.

Stourport started at the back of their division but had very quickly pulled through two fours before being ordered to slow at the first of two narrow bridges, Hereford II being just ahead. The crew could not gain enough advantage before reaching the second bridge and were again slowed by the marshalls. However excellent steering by Martin Reeley through the tricky 'S' bend saw Stourport a length up as they came onto the 1000 metre finishing straight, which they then increased to 3 lengths at the finish, Hereford I and City of Oxford share the Terry Warner Cup which has been won in the past by many notable oarsmen.

Another first was achieved by this crew, being the first win in the Mary Maiden, a coxed/coxless convertable four donated by that stalwart member and honorary regatta treasurer, Gerry Maiden.

The new eight makes its first competition appearance this weekend at the Worcester Head, rowing in a strong field of local crews, including last week's very fast Hereford first eight, easy winners at Gloucester, also racing will be the club's promising junior four, who will have their work cut out against Belmont Abbey, winning crew at Gloucester.
R. Lloyd March 1976