Bewl Bowl IRC
21st September 2002 - Bewl Bowl Dragon Boat Festival
The competition ran throughout the day and attracted hundreds of competitors aged from 5 years to 50 plus. The competition was organised by Kimberley Naylor-Perrott who came second in her division and fourth overall in the 2002 World Indoor Rowing Championships assisted by Peter Cookson a former Canadian National Coach. On the day Kimberley was assisted by many volunteers from Bewl Rowing Club, David Lloyd Maidstone, Steve Goodall and Ben Addison from Concept 2 who also provided the machines. There were twenty-eight categories divided into three separate competitions. The children raced over 50, 100 and 250 metres depending on their ages whilst adult competitors new to rowing entered the Fun 1 minute challenge to see how many metres they could row over that time. Whilst some competitors came dressed to win, others rowed complete in the costumes they had just worn in the main Dragon Boat races! The proceeds raised from the entry fees were donated to Sport Relief.
Whilst those placed in the top 3 in each of the categories were awarded medals and prizes provided by donations from FUNRAISERS, Concept 2, David Lloyd Leisure, Maidstone and Sport Relief, the fastest boy and girl aged between 11 and 18 and rowing over 250 metres received a specially engraved plate donated by the Edward Mullen Commemorative Fund. The winners were Georgia Banks (56.3 secs) and Hugh Gabriel (48.9 secs), both of whom had been entered the 13-14 year age group.
The greatest attraction however was the Competitive 500 competition in which the more experienced Concept 2 user tried to cover 500 metres in the fastest possible time. Attracted by the possibility of racing against World and British Champions who had travelled from as far a field as Stranraer in Scotland just to support the event, competitors were required to enter a qualifying time before the top 5 in each age and weight category raced head to head in the afternoon finals.
The many spectators witnessed eight thrilling finals. Of particular mention were Robin Earle and Graham Hobden, who battled throughout finishing in 1.29.9 and 1.30.1 in Men's Over 40 Hwt. In the Women's Over 40 Lwt race, Karron Measor and Marion Eagles exchanged 1st and 2nd places throughout before Karen narrowly edged Marion into 2nd place 2.05.3 and 2.05.6 respectively. Of the champion rowers who supported the event, Anna Bailey, the current World and British Champion (50+) won the Women's Over 40 Hwt in 1.39.0. David "RoadRunner" Hislop (current British Champion in the 45+ Lwt) also won his race in 1.33.3
In the final race of the day, the Men's Under 40 Hwt category, the current joint World Champion, Nik Fleming gave a powerful performance beating his own personal best set earlier in the year at the launch of the PPP Sport Relief Rowing event finishing in 1.20.2 ahead of Jon Goodall in 1.22.2.
The winners in the Competitive 500 metre finals were as follows:-
| Pos | Name | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Male under 40 HWT | ||
| 1 | Nik Fleming | 1.20.2 |
| 2 | Jon Goodall | 1.22.2 |
| 3 | Richard Scott | 1.38.2 |
| Male over 40 HWT | ||
| 1 | Robin Earle | 1.29.9 |
| 2 | Graham Hobden | 1.30.1 |
| 3 | P.Moysey | 1.36.8 |
| Male under 40 LWT | ||
| 1 | Jamie Marshall | 1.31.6 |
| 2 | Steve Chivers | 1.36.5 |
| 3 | Martin Causey | 1.41.6 |
| Male over 40 LWT | ||
| 1 | David Hislop | 1.33.3 |
| 2 | David Derby | 1.41.2 |
| 3 | John Stokes | 1.52.0 |
| Female under 40 HWT | ||
| 1 | Megan Brown | 1.40.6 |
| 2 | Carly Connolly | 1.46.0 |
| 3 | Michelle Baker | 1.49.3 |
| Female over 40 HWT | ||
| 1 | Anna Bailey | 1.39.0 |
| 2 | Sally Redman | 1.46.1 |
| 3 | Rose Donaghy | 1.50.3 |
| Female under 40 LWT | ||
| 1 | Rebecca Ciel | 1.54.9 |
| 2 | Caroline Fuggle | 1.58.0 |
| 3 | Tiffany Holley | 2.13.4 |
| Female over 40 LWT | ||
| 1 | Karron Measor | 2.05.3 |
| 2 | Marion Eagles | 2.05.6 |
| 3 | Cindy Cogsell | 2.51.0 |
