The siege of Bedford Castle - 1224
Control Tent and Registration
Rachel Maltby, Nicky Durant, Fiona Frossell, Irina Ermakova, Hazel Rawdon-Smith, Sara Reay.
Regatta Control
George Hammond, Hugh Maltby, David Pinkney, Dom Vincent, Sean Costello, Ian Pendall
Regatta Software
Will Everitt
Commentary
Harry Fowler, Martin Banham-Hall, Brian Cawley, Karen Fulford, Andy Hollis
Timing and Results
Steve Sangster, George French, BRC Juniors, Star Juniors, Sarah Wetherall, Michelle Fisher,, Niamh Brennan, Alison Billingham, Vince Hayes.
Ceremonial
Ian Taylor, Ivan Higgins, Ian Darnell, Belinda Taylor
Safety Boats
Mike Baker, Mike Weatherbed, Kevin Walsh, Andrew Korolov, Rachel Armstrong, Sarah Lucas, Dave Pendall, Lisa Bassett, Georgia Goddard, Louise Dickson
Stakeboats
Imogen Bowis, Bedford Prep School, Bedford Modern School, Bedford Girls
Car and Trailer Parking
Eamon O'Donovan, John Hele, Emma James, Jeremy Markham, Rex Elliot
Umpires and Helpers Co-Ordinators
Simon White, Mark Redman, Ian Donald
Catering
Bedford Rowing Club and the Friends of Bedford School Boat Club
First Aid
Ambulance Response Services Ltd
Communications
DTS Solutions Ltd
Regatta Members
Regatta Information
Regatta Enclosure
Entrance to the enclosure is £2.
Facilities include a licensed bar, light refreshments, BBQ and toilets.
Location: what3words: //desk.traded.spill
Online Event spider
Can be found
Online racing timetable of events
Can be found
Online Regatta Safety Plan
Can be found
Stern pair
The "stroke" is the rower closest to the stern of the boat. Everyone else follows the stroke's timing, placing their blades in and out of the water at the same time as the stroke. The stroke can communicate with the coxswain (when in a stern-coxed boat) to give feedback on how the boat feels. During a race, it is the stroke's responsibility to establish the crew's rate (number of strokes per minute) and rhythm. In coxed boats, the coxswain will assist the stroke in establishing the rate. Due to the significant responsibilities involved, the rower in the stroke seat is usually one of the most technically sound members of the boat. The next rower ('seven' in an eight) sits directly behind the stroke and is typically both fit and skilled. This rower acts as a buffer between the stroke and the rest of the crew They closely follow the rhythm set by the stroke and help transmit this rhythm to the rest of the boat, particularly to the rowers on the same side as seven Rowers tend to look at the blades on their side of the boat to check their timing If the stroke increases or decreases the stroke rate, it is essential that seven follows this change so that it is translated to the rest of the crew Number seven usually watches the back of number 8 to time when to move up the slide and copy their rhythm
Middle four
The middle rowers of a crew (numbers 2 and 3 in a four, and 3, 4, 5, and 6 in an eight) are typically the most powerful and heaviest rowers, often referred to as the "Fuel Tank," "Engine Room," or "Power House." The boat experiences less pitching in the middle, and the rowers positioned there have less influence on these movements due to their proximity to the center of mass and centre of buoyancy. Consequently, rowers in the middle of the boat do not need to be as technically proficient or responsive to the boat's movements, allowing them to concentrate more on exerting maximum force It is customary for crews to assign the most technically skilled rowers to the bow and stern positions, while placing the physically strongest and heaviest rowers in the centre
Bow pair
The rower closest to the bow of the boat is usually called either the "bow" or the "bowman." In coxless boats, the bowman is often responsible for giving calls to the crew. The bow pair, comprising the bow and "two," who are the two rowers closest to the boat's bow, hold significant responsibility for the stability and direction of the boat compared to any other pair of rowers. They are often highly technical rowers. In stern-coxed boats, the bow is subject to the greatest amount of pitching, necessitating the bow pair to be adaptable and quick in their movements.
Boats that are bow-coxed rely on communication between the bowman and the cox, as the cox cannot see boats approaching from behind Bowmen tend to be the smallest rowers in the boat
Steering
In coxless pairs, quadruple sculls, and coxless fours, one of the rowers will be designated to steer They will control the rudder using lines attached to the toe of one shoe, which pivots around the ball of the foot.
The gate holds your blade in place while you row.
The rigger is what supports your blade and provides a point for it to pivot on.
The footplate has the shoes on. It's adjustable for rowers of different heights.
The slide is the bit the seat moves back and forth on. It is also adjustable (like the footplate).
How does the racing work at Bedford Amateur Regatta?
All races are between two crews racing side by side over a course measuring 1,200 metres. Races start just below Prebend Street Bridge and finish on the Embankment at the Suspension Bridge.
Crews race in different categories dependent upon:
• Gender: usually all male (M) or all female (W), though not necessarily always with a cox.
• Age range: eg Junior (J), Senior (S) or Master (M)
Other terms:
'Stroke side' is usually on the left or port side of the boat when looking toward the bow. It's named after the person nearest the stern of the boat who sets the timing of the 'stroke' and whose oar is usually rigged on that side.
Alternate rigging of oars in sweep-oared boats means that the person in the 'bow' seat usually rows on the other side of the boat. So 'bow side' is usually on the right or starboard side.
Hospitality @ Bedford’s Rowing Club
Rowing Club
Bedford Rowing Club has a fully licensed bar, lounge area and balcony overlooking the river and bridge making it the ideal venue to hire.
We welcome both members and non-members to enjoy our hospitality.
The Draw
The Regatta Draw was once a social event in itself in the days before computers. The Regatta Committee would meet the weekend before the Regatta to work out the racing programme using a card system, from which the programme was taken.
Today, the draw is fully automated, taking only a few seconds to compute It considers doubling-up, boat sharing, and two-minute intervals
The Events and Cups
The first eight Regattas appeared to have been purely local affairs, with prizes awarded in money However, in 1860, open races for fours, pairs, and sculls were incorporated into the program From then on, silver cups of declared values replaced the money awards
In 1863, two Challenge Cups were offered, both "open to the Ouse": one for sculls and the other for fours The Sculling Cup, won in 1863, 1864, and 1865 by Mr. Harry Thody of Bedford Rowing Club (who later became Chief Constable of Bedford), became his absolute property. The Fours Cup, won in 1863 and 1864 by Bedford Rowing Club, was discontinued in 1865.
In 1868, a Public Schools Four-oared Race was introduced, but only two crews entered, with Derby Grammar School narrowly defeating Bedford School. The Public Schools race continued until 1883, when it was withdrawn due to lack of entries.
In 1873, the Bedford Grand Challenge Cup was added to the prizes The beautifully designed trophy, 21 inches high and weighing 130oz of solid silver, was purchased through public subscription, generously contributed to by the Duke of Bedford, the Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Clubs, and the Thames Rowing Club The cup was designed by Mrs Gillons, wife of C E B Gillons, a Bedford Modern School master, who served as the Honorary Secretary of the Regatta for many years In the 1873 Regatta, Thames Rowing Club defeated Bedford School by nearly two lengths, becoming the inaugural winners of the Grand Challenge Cup. Thames continued their winning streak, securing the cup on eight occasions until 1897. Thereafter, it was many years before they returned to Bedford.
To add some variety to the racing program, the Regatta Committee introduced events such as ladies’ and gentlemen’s double sculls and punting races. These events gained popularity, especially as the contestants were usually well-known figures in the town's social life. However, with the increase in rowing entries, these events had to be reluctantly abandoned.
The first post-World War I Regatta was held in 1919, featuring a single event for eights known as the “Public School Eights” The inaugural race pitted Bedford School against Bedford Modern School, with Bedford School emerging victorious by just over a length By 1938, entries had increased to sixty, decreasing slightly to forty in 1939, but steadily growing thereafter to 167 by 1959 Today, the event routinely garners up to 350 entries, although this number is capped at 320 to accommodate races scheduled between 8:30 am and 7:30 pm, encompassing approximately 300 races in total.
In the mid-1990s, the Committee made the decision to restrict the Regatta solely to eights and fours. This choice was primarily driven by the high demand for entries in these categories.
The Road to International Honours
Many Olympian, Boat Race and International oarsman have competed at the Regatta often in the Junior events before going on to represent their country.
Innovation at the Regatta
The 1933 Regatta was notable for the first demonstration of “syncopated rowing”, which was said to have much to recommend it. A trial match was rowed between a Bedford and Cambridge Crew and was won by the Cambridge Crew. In a four the cox sat in the middle of the boat, separating stroke and three and bow and two. Viewed from behind, the four oars striking the water in succession reminded one of a revolving watermill wheel. The successive striking was said to make for smooth running and better balance, by obviating the checks between the strokes.
Regatta Entries
In the 1955 Regatta Programme, it was noted that entries had continued to grow since the end of World War II. 1955 saw an entry of 39 eights, 48 fours, 4 pairs, 3 double sculls, and 33 sculls competing – a total of 543 oarsmen and 83 coxes. Figures of the entries are available back to 1913. At that time, there were no eight-oared events, and the total entries in 1913 were 36 in all, and in 1914, 24! Entries in the inter-war period ranged between 29 in 1920 to a record of 67 in 1937.
The Senior VIIIs event was introduced in 1919 when two VIIIs competed The maiden sculls were introduced in 1924, the coxless fours in 1932, the Junior VIIIs in 1934, and the double sculls in 1938. The number of VIIIs which ever competed prior to World War II was 10 After the war, entries immediately started to increase, being 60 in the immediate post-war year and rising to 102 in 1948. The following years saw a steady increase: 135, 130, 139, 145, 133, and 148 Fast forward to 2014, the Regatta enjoyed an entry of circa 280 crews with 1,700 competitors.
Extract from Minutes of Bedford Regatta Committee – 30th May, 1876
Mr. H. Webber brought forward a proposition, which was seconded by Capt. G.P. Nash, "That clinker-built boats be five streaks below the gunwale and open fore and aft." After a discussion regarding steam launch, it was decided to nominate a small committee, comprising Mr. Sargent, Nash, and Webber, to make inquiries about the cost of hiring a boat if found suitable for use by umpires.
At the subsequent meeting on 20th June, 1876, there were present Messrs. Sargent, Thody, Bull, Webber, Piper, Glub, and Gillons An extract from the minutes states: "The Committee appointed to assess the suitability of the steam launch for conveying the umpire near enough to judge the races reported that the steamer was not fast enough for that purpose "
