Upton on Severn Regatta 2025

First Races for Monmouth’s New LTR Crews at Upton on Severn

Monmouth’s latest cohort of Learn to Row graduates swapped the familiar calm of the Wye for the lively waters of Upton on Severn last weekend, diving headfirst into their very first regatta. And what a debut it was!

Two Monmouth crews took to the water in a round-robin format, with both facing off against some seasoned opposition. In the morning, the crew of Steve, Linda, Clare and Richard picked up a fine win against Ross, while Katie, Pete, Andrea and Alice (stepping in at the last minute and proving invaluable!) powered through all three of their opening races unbeaten.

That set up a busy afternoon with both Plate and Championship round-robins. The Plate crew fought out a series of nail-bitingly close races which didn’t quite fall their way, while the Championship crew notched up two excellent wins out of three. That left them tied with hosts Upton on overall victories, with the final result coming down to lengths won. Upton just pipped Monmouth 6 to 2.5, but our crews could hold their heads high after such determined performances.

All of this came after the morning’s racing was delayed by biblical rain and thunder, which sent rowers scurrying for cover – and no doubt boosted trade at the cake stall! Once the clouds cleared, Monmouth showed not only their skills but also great spirit and camaraderie on and off the water.

A huge thank you also goes to Toby, who bravely took on coxing duties despite still recovering from wrist surgery. His calm calls and steady encouragement were a huge help in guiding our crews through their maiden regatta.

The day ended with plenty of smiles, sore muscles, and the warm glow of a job well done. This was a fantastic first step for our LTR rowers, and there’s no doubt they’ve caught the racing bug. Three cheers for Monmouth’s newest competitors – onwards and upwards from here!

See you on the water.