MORE than 140 crews contested the 276th Chester Regatta on the River Dee on a cloudy Saturday.
Royal Chester won an incredible 17 titles, including the Bigland Cup for intermediate eights.
The vet C elite coxless four event was a derby between Royal Chester and Grosvenor, which Royals won by almost two lengths.
The Wirral Challenge Cup also went to Royal Chester in the vet F/H elite double sculls while 17-month-old race sponsor Bessie Belcher ‘presented’ the junior 13 single sculls medal to Royal Chester’s Alex Bain. Bessie is the daughter of race secretary Jan.
Crews from across the region were represented including Bangor University who won the specially engraved 2009 Victor Ludorum Trophy (senior category). The junior category) belonged to Northwich RC, who went home with five trophies.
The closest race of the day was the J13 coxed quadruple sculls, won by just three feet by Queen’s Park High School against Royal Chester.
It was one of five wins for Queen’s Park, as they also claimed the J18 coxless quad, coxless intermediate 3, J13 single sculls, J18 double sculls and J15 double sculls.
An old-style brass megaphone was donated by the Friends of Quiet and Considerate Coaches and was awarded to James Harris, a coach at Queen’s Park High, as the most appreciated Chester coach.
The Baker Tilly Northgate Brewery Cup was won by Grosvenor RC in the mixed elite eights, one of only three trophies won by the club on a sparse day.
The City of Chester Trophy, first presented in 1872, went to Chester University, winners of the intermediate 3 coxed fours.
The King’s School won the women’s J16 coxless quadruple sculls and J14 coxed quadruple sculls, plus pewter tankards for the women’s novice double sculls and single sculls.
