Spitfire Boat Club
Rowing the Stour since 2001!

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Spitfire at the Bewl Bridge RC Virtual Head Series 2021

Manuel Marques 2 Comments

Despite current lockdown restrictions preventing any kind of organised on-water competitions, Bewl Bridge RC has very successfully organised a virtual head race (5,000 metres) which took place between the 28th and 31st of January, 2021. Along with other 40 rowing clubs from all over the country, our club was well represented with 7 our members taking part in various categories, even forming virtual “crews” of pairs and fours.

Club members who lacked access to a Concept2 ergometer were also able to take part, as the event allowed competitors to run the length of the head race, with chairman Tom Hurst, captain Manuel Marques, and veteran rower James Knight all taking part in that format. Among a competitive field of over 500 athletes, Spitfire crews did very well, with some crews and individuals finishing in podium positions.

Club member Lewin Hynes competing in the 5,000 m ergo event – with a very supportive audience!

The composite Masters C virtual quad of Manuel Marques, Lewin Hynes, James Knight and Mark Latymer finished first in its category, with a time of 18:50.3 seconds. New members Jeremy Hewlett and Nigel Weaver, competing in the Masters F category in a virtual pair, placed fourth with a time of 20:34.3.

Club captain Manuel Marques taking part in the 5,000-metre ergo event (or, posing for the photograph at this stage…).

Full results listed below (results correct as of 8pm Sun 31st). We congratulate all members who took part in this event, and look forward to the follow-up event at the end of February!

5k ergo

  • MAS D 1x (Knight): 6th (out of 10 entrants)
  • MAS C 1x (Hynes): 2nd 🥈 (out of 16 entrants)
  • MAS C 1x (Latymer): 10th (out of 16 entrants)
  • MAS F 1x (Hewlett): 6th (out of 15 entrants)
  • MAS G 1x (Weaver): 3rd 🥉 (out of 5 entrants)
  • MAS A 1x(LWT) (Marques): 2nd 🥈 (out of 2 entrants)
  • MAS F 2x (Hewlett/Weaver): 4th (out of 5 entrants)
  • MAS C 4x (Marques/Hynes/Knight/Latymer): 1st 🥇 (out of 4 entrants)

5k run

  • U23 Lwt (Hurst): 6th (out of 9 entrants)
  • MAS A Lwt (Marques): 2nd 🥈 (out of 5 entrants)
  • MAS D (Knight): 1st 🥇 (only entrant in category).

Reflecting back on 2020

Tom Hurst No Comments

After a tough, eventful year we held our Annual General Meeting on the 4th December to reflect upon the club’s year and to discuss its future.

Over the past year, we have been privileged to have 6 great new members join our rowing family. We also obtained the ‘David Ravens’, adding another four to our fleet. On top of this, our members have worked tirelessly this year to tidy and regenerate both the boathouse and the area around it, making leaps and strides from how it looked just 12 months ago! So massive thanks to everyone involved for your passion and effort in doing this, and a very special thanks to friend of the Club, Roy, for his assistance during the summer!!!

However, amongst all the good news, the announcement that our chair Rory and Treasurer Aine had decided to step down for personal reasons was made. We cannot thank them both enough for the contribution they made to Spitfire and all their hard work! This has led to the club voting to have Tom step up as our Chair and Jeremy taking on the role of Treasurer.

Even though it has been a weird and trying year overall, our members still managed to make the most of the river and to make a difference to the club with our Covid-safe rows, and grounds maintenance days. We will strive to continue supporting the Spitfire family and the local community, sticking together to get through these challenging times.

*Not all pictures were taken during the Covid-19 pandemic!

We are sure that 2021 will be brighter for us all and hope that it brings great steps forward for our club. Most of all we look forward to restrictions easing, allowing us to come together and welcome more new members to our family, and best of all, to finally open our learn to row course in the summer to all those that have expressed an interest in joining so far.

Even though the past year has been a tough time for many of us, we must not let the bad overshadow the good. If you are reading this, we hope you are safe and well and want to remind you that there are blue skies and calm waters ahead!

– Spitfire Boat Club Committee