Stratford upon Avon Boat Club’s annual Scratch Regatta took place early on Boxing Day morning in the best possible conditions: over seventy members managed to leave their beds after the overindulgence of the Christmas festivities, supported by friends and relatives who came down to the river to watch the spectacle
“There were seven races in all over a short sprint course from the Ferry to the Club grounds on the Town stretch of the River Avon. The crews was selected to ensure close and exciting racing”,
said coach Alfie Noakes
The racing provided great interest to early morning sightseers and visitors watching from the Recreation Ground, The Royal Shakespeare Terrace, Bancroft Gardens and The Tramway Bridge. Said Emma Wellstead, fundraiser for Stratford Boat Club, “The scratch regatta caught the imagination of all who came down to the river and we hope that it will give added impetus to 
fundraising in 2017 to achieve funds to bring sport to all in the area”
Stratford upon Avon Boat Club will be back on the river this week and after the New Year training hard for the 2017 head season and their own regatta in June
See also Stratford Herald p21 and online at http://www.stratford-herald.com/63666-rowers-force-boxing-d…