Stourport Regatta Voted a Success ... 1979

With 37 of the 57 visiting clubs leaving with trophies after a full weekend of rowing, Stourport’s two regattas were considered a great success, despite the problems encountered by increased river traffic on Sunday. Worcester Rowing Club won the Jack Roberts Victor Ludorum Plaque by winning Elite B, and Veteran B Eights on Saturday, and Veteran C Fours on Sunday, Monmouth were second with three wins, in Senior A Fours, Senior B Double Sculls and Junior B Fours, while Hereford had a lean day on Saturday with wins in Elite B Eights, Elite B Fours and Novice Sculls on Sunday to take third place.
With 426 entries for the two days, Stourport continued to prove itself the most popular domestic regatta in the country, attracting clubs from all over the British Isles, despite the holiday season. The host club itself managed to drum-up 47 crews, 11 of which reached the finals, while two actually came first. The Elite B Coxless Four win was something of a surprise but the ever strong Veteran Section were disappointed with their single win in Veteran C Eights on Saturday.
The competitors crammed into the boathouse on Saturday evening for the customary Disco and Booze-up, and the excellent weather that continuesd throughout the weekend was reflected in the bar takings which topped £2000 for the first time. Through the captain’s hard work £1360 sponsorship was raised to ensure the financial success of the regatta, money much needed to clear up a brewery loan and to go towards a carbocraft four for the 1980 season.
The problem of increased river traffic on the Sunday of the regatta was at its worst in living memory, and prompted the mayor of Stourport to say that he would do all in his power to assist the club in this problem before next year’s regatta. Mercifully, no serious injury was sustained and the competitors are to be congratulated for their patience with some very unskillful skippers of hire craft. The regatta committee met immediately after the conclusion of racing to discuss the problem and it is hoped by next year the various solutions discussed will have eliminated the problem, the idea of torpedoeing the pleasure craft as they approached the course was unfortunately rejected.
The ladies committee produced ample refreshment over the whole weekend as well as 160 cooked breakfasts on Sunday morning and were certainly appreciated by all for their enthusiasm for what is a hard task.
The regattas were blessed with 53 womens crews and scullers in its 9 events which suggests that this area should be expanded, and the usual response of 63 entries in four pairs events must give other regatta organisers some ideas. Six pairs of matched pairs were borrowed for the event and kept in constant use throughout the sprint regatta. Another innovation was the inclusion of Seior B Double Sculls on the Saturday, which increased the number of entries in the specialist boat to 12.
Richard Ayling kindly agreed to present the prizes at the conclusion of Saturday’s regatta, and so was able to present the magnificent pair of sculls he had donated to Kingston Rowing Club, won in a private match against Agecroft at the conclusion of the two divisions of Novice Sculls, as he was about to leave for the World Championships in Bled this was doubly appreciated.
R. Lloyd Report August 1979