Merchant magic for Bewdley

Members impressed at Evesham sprint regatta and at Shrewsbury, both in the juniors and seniors.

Dave Merchant lifted a winners' trophy in Evesham with a good victory in the prestigious senior one single sculls event.

Merchant's success was mirrored by the men's veteran four who raced superbly to clinch silverware in a close finish.

Jenny Merchant coxed the four of John Hinton, Chris Hinton, Mike Parker and Stourport Boat Club's S Winter, who marked their first competitive outing together.

Two other Hintons, Mel and Emma, joined Jane Trickle and Jo Atkinson in the women's senior one four, with J Merchant again coxing, but they were unluckily pipped to the post by just two feet.

Bewdley then tested their skills at Shrewsbury with teenager Lewis Beech enjoying a fruitful weekend.

Beech won his heats and final easily in the junior 15 single sculls despite the largest entry of the day in the section.

He was also in winning form above his age group in the junior 16 singles, taking his semi-final easily and then overpowering strong opposition to take the last stage by one and a half lengths.

Jo Atkinson, Theresa Roberts, Maggie Jameson and Liz Killick dominated the veteran C events by firstly winning the coxless fours.

They were then joined by cox M Hinton as they stormed to a convincing win the coxed fours.

In the veteran B fours, Grosvenor lost to the crew of J Hinton, C Hinton, Parker and Winter, coxed by Ann O'Connell, by a substantial margin.

J Merchant steered a near perfect course to win the girls' junior 16 singles by two boat lengths after a strong semi-final display.

The first competition for the men's novice eight, with an average age of just 16, brought victory over University College Chester and then an impressive defeat of De Montford University in the final.

Coach Mick Edmunds coxed for Laurence Hopkins, Alex Holden, Stewart Cherrington, Simon Barbour, Dale Stokes, Ben Wamett, Mike Raven and Garren England.