Evesham Regatta 2026
- Alex Mitchell
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
A Winning Weekend at the Evesham Regatta & Sprint!
What a fantastic start to the regatta season! Monmouth Rowing Club descended upon the River Avon this past weekend for the 2026 Evesham Regatta and Sprint. Known for its tricky navigation, Evesham is a true test of a steersman’s nerves. With the Saturday course stretching 1000m upstream, featuring two massive bends and significant staggers at the start and finish, the pressure was on—especially since every single one of our entries was in a coxless boat!
While many crews from other clubs found themselves intimately acquainted with the moored boats at the first bend, our crews kept it (mostly) between the banks.
Saturday: The 1000m Challenge
Saturday was a day of intense racing and club pride. The absolute highlight was the Women’s Masters D 1x final, which turned into an all-Monmouth affair between Jane H and Sue S. It was a nail-biter; despite a massive late push from Sue, Jane held on for a narrow, hard-fought victory.
In the Open Masters D/E 4x, the crew of Peter, Luke, Geoff, and Alex showed incredible grit. After battling through several rounds, they faced Nottingham in the final. In a dramatic turn, the Nottingham crew clashed blades at the 300m mark and were subsequently disqualified. As they say, "a win is a win," and it was a particularly special moment for Peter, Luke, and Geoff, marking their first-ever regatta and first-ever win! A huge shout-out to Alex for some incredibly steady steering that kept them in the clear.
We also had strong showings from:
W MasD 2x: The crew of Sue and Dawn
Mx MasE/F 2x: Alex and Bonita in a Mixed Double couldn't quite make up the stagger and 12 second handicap gainst Warwick (some particulary slow counting).
Op MasG 4x: The crew of Colin, Phil, Andy and Mike.
Op MasH/I 2x: Colin and Phil.
W MasE/F 1x: Bonita flying the flag in the single.
Sunday: The Sprint Success
The sun stayed with us for Sunday’s shorter sprint course. The Open MasF/G 4x (Colin, Phil, Andy and Mike) returned to the water and secured a brilliant victory against Warwick, proving that Monmouth’s speed is just as potent over the shorter distances.
Our other Sunday competitors included:
Op MasH 2x - Colin and Phil duo putting in another solid performance.
Club Spirit & Celebrations
The riverbank was buzzing with Monmouth support. It was great to see Sarah and Darren up to cheer us on—with Darren showing off his impressive post-knee operation scar!
The weekend also held a touch of romance. Alex and his wife Gill celebrated 33 years since Alex proposed to her right there at the Evesham Regatta back in 1993. Talk about a "row-mantic" anniversary!
A massive thank you goes to Phil for his tireless work behind the scenes with organization and for safely towing the trailer.
Looking Ahead
It was wonderful to see the intensity squad helping to bring on and race alongside last year’s Learn to Row graduates and the main rowing squad. This blend of experience and new talent is what makes MRC so special.
Thank you, Evesham Rowing Club, for hosting another lovely event. It was the perfect start to our regatta season, and we can't wait to get back on the water for the next one!
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