Reds and Blues of Bideford sweep up at Rowing Awards in Torbay

Torquay Rowing Club’s Rob Smith, the current President of the West of England Amateur Rowing Association, held the President’s Dinner and Awards Presentations at the Toorak Hotel, Torquay.

Following a pleasant dinner attended by 106, Rob presented the West of England ARA 2026 Championship awards.

Bideford Reds enjoyed an excellent showing in the 2026 Championships, taking the titles in both the Open Senior A and Open Senior B coxed fours. These victories highlighted the club’s strength across the senior categories and made Bideford Reds one of the standout clubs in this year’s awards.

Bideford Blues also celebrated a successful Championships, winning the Women’s Senior C coxed fours and the Open Novice single sculls through A Rowland. The club’s Barney Evans claimed the Open Senior A single sculls title, while Harry Guy won the Open Under 14 single sculls. Together, these results demonstrated Bideford’s depth of talent across both crew and individual events.

2026 West of England ARA Championship winners:

Open Senior A coxed fours – Bideford Reds

Open Senior B coxed fours – Bideford Reds

Open Senior C coxed fours – Dartmouth

Open Masters coxed fours – Wimbleball

Open Novice coxed fours – Bideford Blues and Dart Totnes

Open under 18 coxed fours – Not contested

Open under 16 coxed quadruple sculls – Wimbleball

Open under 14 coxed quadruple sculls – Not contested

Women’s Senior A coxed fours – Not contested

Women’s Senior B coxed fours – Dartmouth

Women’s Senior C coxed fours – Bideford Blues

Women’s Masters coxed fours – Not contested

Women’s Novice coxed fours – Dartmouth

Women’s Under 18 coxed fours – Not contested

Women’s under 16 coxed quadruple sculls – Dart Totnes

Women’s under 14 coxed quadruple sculls – Not contested

Open Senior A single sculls – Barney Evans – Bideford Blues

Open Senior B single sculls – Not contested

Open Senior C single sculls – Josh Pichowski – Dartmouth

Open Novice single sculls – A Rowland – Bideford Reds

Open under 18 single sculls – Isaac Hattersley – Dart Totnes

Open under 16 single sculls – William Jackson-Heritage – Torquay

Open Under 14 single sculls – Harry Guy – Bideford Blues

Women’s Senior A single sculls – Not contested

Women’s Senio B single sculls – Not contested

Women’s Senior C single sculls – Not contested

Women’s Novice single sculls – A Hawkins – Dart Totnes

Women’s under 18 single sculls – Sophie Evans – Torquay

Women’s under 16 single sculls – Sophie Evans – Torquay

Women’s Under 14 single sculls – Anaise White – Dart Totnes

Special Awards:

Award for significant contribution to the West of England ARA - Abbie Dunn

Long Service Award - Hilary Bastone

Contribution to the West of England in 2026 - Richard Cudmore