SHREWSBURY REGATTA 2002

This year's regatta was the biggest ever, surpassing even last year's record turn-out, with a total of 715 crews and 2,500 seats competing over 1,000 m on Saturday and 600 m on the Sunday. Indeed, Shrewsbury Regatta can now boast the largest single day entry in the UK regatta calendar.

See the results for Saturday's and Sunday's racing.

To all of those who competed in, helped to organise, sponsor or simply turn up to watch, a very big THANK YOU!

Two jam-packed days of racing saw mixed fortunes in terms of the weather, however most of those present undoutedly much enjoyed the weekend. Despite a decent home-turf haul of pots from Pengwern and Shrewsbury School crews, a large (and vocal) Leicester contingent had an decent number of victories, along with crews from Northwich, Royal Chester, Stratford and Stourport (to name but a few). Also present, due in part by the presence of the West of England Challenge Vase Trophy (hosted by Pengwern once every five years) for elite coxed-fours, were Wallbrook/Palatine all the way from The Tideway in London - although they lost out to Henley-champions Worcester in that event.

Aside from seemingly endless-hours of racing, Saturday night offered the chance to celebrate glorious victories and banish ignominous defeats, with a terrific local live band enticing all but the 'unofficial' bouncers to dance the night away. One particular Pengwern junior performed his now-legendary dancing skills; and it was rumoured the next day that the party had even attracted the attentions of an “Eastern European” lady offering 'specialist services' - but it's anyone guess as to whether or not that was true.

Once all the pots had been issued, the coxes (and some tall, lanky scullers) had taken a celebratory 'swim' in the Severn, and the trailers made their treks back to their respective parts of the country (well, all but one), the clean-up began, ended, and once again the local swans could claim the river back to themselves.

See you all again next year!

A busy bank-side: the largest-ever Shrewsbury Regatta.

A murky Saturday morning's racing gets underway.

Prime viewing on the front lawn of Pengwern's clubhouse.

Pengwern's men's Open quad in convincing form on Saturday.