Festive fun at Stratford's Boxing Day Regatta

MORE than 40 Stratford-upon-Avon Boat Club members are expected to brave the cold and damp to take part in the annual Boxing Day Scratch Regatta.

The event has become a firm fixture on the club and town’s calendar, allowing members to blow away the over-indulgence of Christmas, before setting their sights on some serious training for the 2018 season.

Athletes will compete in fours and quads over a short sprint course from the ferry to the club grounds on the town stretch of the River Avon.

Stratford’s captain of boats, Oli Smith, said: “We pick club crews from names entered into a draw based on gender, age and ability, so that all the crews are more or less equal, ranging from members of the junior squad right through to masters”

Crowds can watch and cheer from the Recreation Ground, the Royal Shakespeare Terrace, Bancroft Gardens and the Tramway Bridge from 9.30am.

Meanwhile, the club ended their 2017 campaign with squads testing their mettle and stamina against the clock as senior and junior squads took part in the season’s final time trial.