Splashing Fun at the Regatta ... 1979

The importance of Stourport Boat Club’s Annual Regatta was evidently recognised by even the most dishonest of people, the club’s flag carrying the bold letters S.B.C. went missing without trace three years ago after a night of frolics celebrating the club’s centenary year.
Appeals for its return were ignored until last week when the important peice of cloth arrived annonymously through the post, just in time to be hoisted up for the weekend’s events, and the hot weather brought spectators swarming to the riverside. But the heat did not prove as pleasant for the rowers who came from as far as Tyne, Tees, Durham, Cambridge, London, Bristol and Devon to sweat it out through the 356 events in the largest amateur regatta in the country.
“The numbers have inevitably dropped this year due to petrol shortages.” said Mr Richard Lloyd of Stourport Boat Club, “But we have tried to combat this by charging 1977 fees for entrance into events.”
The regatta is the main money raising event in the Boat Club’s calendar - the proceeds helping to finance the running of the club and contributing to the £2500 needed for a new Carbocraft coxed four that they hope to own soon, the boat is of the same type used in the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race.
Stourport Boat Club were victorious in two events, the Veteran Eights and the Elite B Coxless Fours, they now need only six wins before the end of the year to equal their all-time record of 36.
Another local club, Bewdley beat Birmingham in the final of Novice Fours.
The regatta wa svery successful over both days but the smooth running was disrupted on Saturday by pleasure boats cruising their way into the middle of races, as a result several re-rows had to take place.
Councillor Stan James, presenting the prizes on Sunday said he intended to do something about the situation before next year’s regatta.
Kidderminster Times 17.8.79