Bideford Reds round off brilliant season with Dartmouth victory

Bideford Amateur Rowing Club brought the curtain down on an outstanding 2026 regatta season at Dartmouth, with crews producing a series of strong performances at the final Western England Amateur Rowing Association (WEARA) championship event of the year.

Despite challenging conditions on the water, the Bideford crews competed across multiple categories and enjoyed some closely fought racing — including a dramatic finish in the final race of the day.

The first action came in the OSB 4+, where the Bideford crew battled all the way down the course in a thrilling three-boat contest.

Just a length separated all three crews at the finish, with Bideford taking a well-earned second place.

The singles followed, with Alex Rowland competing in the Novice 1x, Andy in the Masters 1x and Millie in the Women’s Novice 1x. All three enjoyed close racing and were pleased with their performances as they brought their individual seasons to a successful conclusion.

The ONov 2x pairing of Harry and Jaxom also secured third place in what was their first race together in a double scull.

There was plenty of encouragement for the pair to continue their development in small boats, with the club hoping to see more racing from them in the discipline next season.

The highlight of the day, however, came in the OSA 4+, where Bideford produced a commanding performance to claim victory.

In a five-boat race, the Bideford crew quickly established themselves at the front and powered clear to win by around four lengths.

The successful crew comprised Ross Bennett, Ricky Syvret, Luis Wilkins, Charlie Colwill and Oscar Cavill, with Grace Farrell providing the coxing.

It was a particularly satisfying result for the crew and provided another fitting highlight to an already exceptional season for the Bideford club.

The O2- almost did not make it to the start line after a remarkably short turnaround between boating and race time. Nevertheless, the crew took to the rough water, gave it their best shot and managed to enjoy the experience despite the challenging conditions.

Unfortunately, an equipment malfunction prevented the Women’s Novice 4+ from competing.

The club praised everyone involved for their patience and support throughout the day, with assistance in areas including boating and rigging helping to ensure the event ran as smoothly as possible despite the setback.

The final race of the season saw Bideford compete in the O8+, where the crew produced another strong performance to finish second.

In an entertaining race, the Bideford boat was narrowly beaten on the line, having been just pipped by their rivals in the closing stages.

It was another impressive team effort to bring the regatta season to a close.

And there was plenty to celebrate overall.

The Bideford Reds have won three WEARA Championships during 2026, underlining what has been a remarkable year for the club and its rowers.

The club’s championship-winning crews included the OSA 4+, featuring Ross Bennett, Ricky Syvret, Luis Wilkins, Charlie Colwill and Oscar Cavill, coxed by Grace Farrell.

The OSB 4+ championship-winning crew featured Ross Bennett, Ricky Syvret, Luis Wilkins, Chris Thorne, Oscar Cavill and Charlie Colwill, with Grace Farrell coxing.

Alex Rowland also claimed a WEARA Championship title in the ONov 1x.

With another season now complete, Bideford Amateur Rowing Club can look back on a year of strong performances, championship success and plenty of promise for the future.

Three WEARA titles represent an exceptional return — and provide the Reds with plenty of momentum heading into the winter and an exciting 2027 season.

Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta results:

Championship events:

Open Senior A coxed fours 1 Bideford Reds 2 Plymouth 3 Falmouth

Open Senior B coxed fours 1 Dartmouth 2 Bideford Reds 3 Worthing

Open Senior C coxed fours 1= Southampton Coalporters 1= Bideford Blues 3 Dart Totnes

Open Novice coxed fours 1 Dart Totnes 2 Dartmouth 3 Bideford Blues

Open Senior A single sculls 1 Barney Evans – Bideford Blues 2 Phil McCorry – Bexhill

Open Senior C single sculls 1 Josh Pichowski – Dartmouth

2 Harry Fanson – Bideford Blues 3 Liam Hassard - Dartmouth

Open Novice single sculls 1 William Brounger – Dart Totnes 2 Will Gillo – Dartmouth 3 Alex Rowland - Bideford Reds

Open Under 18 single sculls 1 Piran Newman – Falmouth 2 Isaac Hattersley – Dart Totnes 3 Alex Carlisle – Southampton Coalporters

Open Under 16 single sculls 1 Alex Breese – Lymington 2 William Jackson – Torquay 3 Finley Morant – Lymington

Open Under 14 single sculls – Not raced

Women’s Senior B coxed fours 1 Dartmouth 2 Falmouth 3 Bideford Blues

Women’s Senior C coxed fours 1 Wimbleball 2 Bideford Blues 3 Southampton Coalporters

Women’s Novice coxed fours 1 Lymington 2 Southampton Coalporters 3 Dartmouth

Women’s Under 16 coxed quadruple sculls 1 Dart Totnes B 2 Dart Totnes A 3 Dartmouth

Women’s Novice single sculls 1 Harriet Thomas – Wimbleball 2 Alice Hawkins – Dart Totnes 3 Elspeth Riggs – Dart Totnes

Women’s Under 18 single sculls 1 Paige Darnley – Dart Totnes 2 Sophie Evans – Torquay 3 Iris Blanchard – Dart Totnes

Women’s Under 16 single sculls 1 Sophie Evans – Torquay 2 Mabel Abbott – Dartmouth 3 Iris Blanchard – Dart Totnes

Women’s Under 14 single sculls 1 Annabel Phillips – Southampton Coalporters 2 Anaise White – Dart Totnes 3 Erika Aisthorpe – Medway Towns

Supporting events:

Open eights 1 Falmouth 2 Bideford Reds 3 Dartmouth

Open Masters coxed fours (D-E) 1 BTC Southampton 2 Dartmouth

Open Masters coxed fours (F-H) 1 Wimbleball 2 BTC Southampton 3 Exeter

Open coxless pairs 1 BTC Southampton 2 Plymouth 3 Bideford Reds

Open double sculls 1 Wimbleball 2 Bideford Blues 3 Plymouth

Open Under 18 double sculls 1 Falmouth 2 Southampton Coalporters 3 Plymouth

Open Under 16 double sculls 1 Lymington 2 Dart Totnes

Open Novice double sculls 1 Dartmouth A 2 Plymouth 3 Bideford Reds

Open Masters double sculls (F-G) 1 Wimbleball 2 Dart Totnes

Open Masters double sculls (H-I) 1 BTC Southampton B 2 BTC Southampton A 3 Southampton Coalporters

Open Master single sculls (E-F) 1 W Theed – Wimbleball 2 Martin Keogh – Exeter

Open Masters single sculls (H-I) 1 Colin Pennington -Bideford Blues 2 Alan Langmaid – Dart Totnes 3 Andrew Cox – Bideford Reds

Women’s Open eights 1 Dart Totnes 2 Dartmouth 3 Lymington

Women’s Open double sculls 1 Dartmouth 2 Wimbleball 3 Bideford Blues B

Women’s Novice double sculls 1 Wimbleball F 2 Wimbleball K 3 Southampton Coalporters A

Women’s Under 18 double sculls 1 Dartmouth A 2 Dartmouth B 3 Paignton

Women’s Under 16 double sculls 1 Dart Totnes 2 Dartmouth 3 Dart Totnes

Women’s Under 14 double sculls 1 Dartmouth 2 Dartmouth

Women’s Masters single sculls 1 Linda Wills – Falmouth 2 Sally Parker – Dart Totnes

Mixed Open coxed fours 1 Dartmouth C 2 Bideford Blues 3 Dartmouth A

Mixed double sculls 1 Dart Totnes