Peterborough City rowers take Bendy course in their stride and a coxless quad qualifies for the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta

Peterborough City rowers took home four wins and two second places, when they competed over the Bendy course of the River Stour at the Sudbury International Regatta.
By Sarah Watson
Published 12th Aug 2021, 10:00 BST
Peterborough City winners at the Sudbury Regatta, from left, Chris Elder, Hayley Shipton, Keely Watson, Sarah Watson, Gemma Singleton and Peggy Papworth.Peterborough City winners at the Sudbury Regatta, from left, Chris Elder, Hayley Shipton, Keely Watson, Sarah Watson, Gemma Singleton and Peggy Papworth.
Peterborough City winners at the Sudbury Regatta, from left, Chris Elder, Hayley Shipton, Keely Watson, Sarah Watson, Gemma Singleton and Peggy Papworth.

Gemma Singleton, Keely Watson, Hayley Shipton and Sarah Watson took home two wins from the event after sprinting to victory in the women’s eight and then later going on to win their coxless quad.

In the quad they competed 650 metres upstream where they faced some challenging bends, but crossed the line 1/2 a boat length ahead of Broxbourne Rowing Club in their semi final before winning against Maidstone Invicta Rowing Club in the final by 3 lengths.

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In the eight they competed over the shorter 350 metre course, where they joined Lily-Rose Mace, Lucy Gauntlett, Harriet White, Alice Broadbent and cox Peggy Papworth to win their heat by 2 lengths ahead of X-Press Boat club, their semi-final by a mere canvas ahead of Lea Rowing club, before beating Maidstone in the final by 1/4 of a boat length, each winning Sudbury’s signature hip flask.

The victorious women's eight of Peterborough City at the Sudbury Regatta.The victorious women's eight of Peterborough City at the Sudbury Regatta.
The victorious women's eight of Peterborough City at the Sudbury Regatta.

Chris Elder won the Open singles event over the longer course, where he won the semi final by 1 1/4 length ahead of St Ives Rowing club and then went on to win his final against a Sudbury sculler.

Elder also jumped in the coxes’ seat to join super scullers Shirlyn Gathoni, Victoria Williams, Tamzin Jones, Claire Widdowson who finished second in the women’s novice coxed quad.

The final win came from Debbie Hunt-Pain, Nickie Livett, Mandy Walters, Andy Merchant and cox Wiktoria Szubzda who beat club mates Denise Parker, Anne Grange, Anne Casey, Libby Mitchell and cox Theo Bailey in the Women’s Masters E coxed fours.

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The Henley qualifiers on Dorney Lake over a 1900 metre time trial took place last weekend. City’s coxless quad of Charlotte Bolton, Harriet Drake-Lee, Ella Darlington & Ellie Cooke did exceptionally well, as out of the 14 crews in their category they finished in the top 7 which qualified them for the Henley Royal Regatta on 11-15th August, where they will be competing for the Junior Women’s Diamond Jubilee Cup.

Peterborough City host their summer regatta this weekend. The action runs from 9am-18:20pm on Saturday and 9am-17.10pm on Sunday.

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