Bedford Small Boats Head

There was success for city scullers on Sunday when Peterborough crews competed at the Bedford Spring small boats head.

Peterborough crews competed throughout the day over the 2 kilometre course on the River Great Ouse, taking home 9 first places and 7 second places.

Harriet Drake-Lee and Ellie Cooke both took home 2 medals each after winning their Womens band 1 double, with a 24 second lead ahead of Sudbury rowing club. They both went on to win their singles as well, Drake-Lee won the Women’s band 1 singles with an impressive time of 08:02 and Cooke had a very similar result winning the Women’s Band 2 singles with a time of 08:03.

Devonne Piccaver was also a double medalist, after she came first out of 8 crews in the women’s J17 singles, and she later joined Alice Dovey to win the Women’s J17 doubles title in a field of 7 crews.

Another double medallist was Ian Palmer, who won the Masters D single sculls in a field of 8 scullers. His time was 8 seconds faster than club mate Alasdair Ryder who took second position. Palmer later joined forces with Dave Smith from Leicester rowing club to win the Masters C/D double sculls.

Kate Read won the Women’s Masters B singles category followed by club mate Keely Watson in second place.

The last win came from Chris Elder, Damen Sanderson, Ro Knighton and Jonathan Ibbott in the Open band 2 coxless fours. They finished 4 seconds ahead of Derby rowing club.

Knighton and Ibbott also raced in the Open coxed fours event joined by Joshua Seagrave, Will Kerry and cox Peggy Papworth. They did well to finish in second place out of 11 crews, just 5 seconds behind Evesham Rowing club.

Other second places came from Roger Carlisle, Doug Barber, Owen Green and John Canton (Masters F/G quads); Sarah Watson, Claire Widdowson, Bianca Manganiello and Keely Watson (Women’s band 2 coxless quads); Chris Elder and Damen Sanderson (Open Band 2 pairs) and Will Kerry and James Marshall (Open band 3 doubles).