Fours Head and Star Head

By Sarah Watson

Peterborough’s rowers ventured on to the Thames last weekend, with five crews entering the Fours Head of the River on Saturday, one of the crews did exceedingly well to place in the top 10 crews. The course covers the 6.8 kilometre course used for the University Boat Race but run in reverse with the tide from Mortlake to Putney. The event attract top clubs and universities from across the country, including many well-known GB rowers.

Ella Darrington, Devonne Piccaver, Sophie Pepper (Bewl Bridge Rowing Club) and Alice Dovey competed in the Women’s Club coxless quads category and placed 9th out of 23 crews. Their time of 20:41.3 was just 0.1 seconds behind Walbrook Rowing club in 8th position.

Oliver Barber, Bert Papworth, Sergio Read Moeira Lima and James Ryder did well to place 23rd out of 39 crews in the Open Schools coxless quad category. James Garfield, Harry Evison-Williams, James Goodchild and Nick Bosma. Competed in the same category and placed 35th.

The girls quads had a similar result, the quad of Erin Ansell-Crook, Emma Calver, Emily Fitzjohn and Sophie Bicknell also placed 35th in the Women’s Schools coxless quads category. Their club mates Wiktoria Szubzda, Kaia Campo, Neve Davies and Lottie Tasker followed closely, finishing in 36th position.

Also at the weekend was Star Club Head of the River where a couple of Peterborough Rowers competed over the 1900 metre course on the Great Ouse.

Kate Read took home a win in the Women’s Band 1 event, finishing with an impressive time of 07:55 which was 25 seconds faster than Nottingham & Union Rowing club in second position.

Ian Palmer took third place in the Masters D single, just 4 seconds behind Yare Rowing club in second place.