Splashing about on the river

BOATERS faced challenging conditions due to rain showers and high winds at the 14th Henley Regatta for the Disabled.

The event, which was held at Phyllis Court, was attended by about 400 people on Saturday.

Some competitors from the Chiltern Centre in Greys Road struggled to turn their bell-boat in the right direction as they contended against headwinds which made the craft difficult to control.

The boats, two Canadian canoes linked together for added stability, had to race 300m from the court pavilion to the end of the pontoon in the private members’ club’s paddock.

Crews trained in advance of the races which were friendly but competitive and the winners cheered when they won.

This year, five teams took part which also included members of South Oxfordshire Mencap Society, Style Acre and Clasp Wokingham.

Clasp, a self-advocacy group for people with learning disabilities, won the regatta while the Chiltern Centre crew placed second.

The Carolyn Molyneux Challenge Cup was awarded to Mencap while Style Acre were awarded most enthusiastic team. Amelia Ash, 44, of St Mark’s Road, who took part as a member of the Chiltern Centre, said she enjoyed racing despite the sometimes rough conditions. She said: “We all did our best and we love being on the boat.

“I don’t feel at all nervous, I just love it. It’s relaxing and we all have fun.”

John Carr, of West Street, Henley, from the Style Acre team, said: “I’ve done this for years and years. It’s fun and I get enjoyment from doing it and there are lots of people I meet here every year whom I enjoy watching while they’re rowing.”

Alba Robins, 14, from Turville, rowed with her teammate Harry, who lives with club foot, and it was their first time rowing together.

She said: “It was a real pride for me to win at least one of the races today. When the finish line was in sight, I was thinking ‘oh my god, what just happened?’ because I don’t expect to win and I’ve not done much training because I’ve been on holiday.

“This is one of the most chilled regattas of the year because all of the other regattas which I find are quite competitive and you feel the need to win but these ones you don’t.”

Attractions on land included a traditional Punch and Judy show, a climbing wall that was wheelchair-accessible, archery with polystyrene arrows, circus skills workshops, a craft stall and rowing machines and there was music from Sam Brown’s Fabulous Ukulele Club.

New for this year was a “find the ducks” treasure hunt which visitors were encouraged to locate around the paddock for the chance to win a prize.

At lunchtime there was a demonstration by elite rowers in adapted rowing boats.

The Rivertime Boat Trust offered boat rides in accessible cruisers, which can take up to five wheelchairs on board.

Trips ran all day operated by skipper Charles Burgess. He said: “There didn’t used to be opportunities like this for disabled people.

“I took my nephew [Tom Harris], who has cerebral palsy, on a boat two weeks ago and it was the first time he had been able to go on the river and he is in his 30s now. It was fantastic.”

Miller’s Ark Mobile Farm brought goats, hens, sheep and other small animals for people to stroke and learn about.

Chairwoman Lucy Bowley, who co-founded the event, said: “The accessible activities all give people confidence to come to the event.

“More than half of every team taking part is made up of people who have got disabilities which is what the event is all about.

“Here, they can experience the Thames, the beauty of Henley, be part of teams and see some elite rowing all in this great location.” Mrs Bowley decided to set up the event in 2011 after realising how inaccessible Henley Royal Regatta was to those with disabilities.

Since covid, she said the regatta has grown in popularity. She added: “More people know about the event and we’re publicising it straight away. Because the local community are so invested in it, it gets great publicity in Henley.”

Marie Byrne, who is chair of South Oxfordshire Mencap Society, said: “This is the third year we’ve been in the regatta after we came back from a break from doing it.

“We’ve got new volunteers buddying our members who haven’t done it before. This exposes our members to new activities and it shows the wider community that they enjoy sport and activities just the same as we do.”

Races were commentated on by Sheila Forde, from Marlow Rowing Club, and committee organiser Ian Tritton and his son Mark.

Mr Tritton said: “It’s about the smiles on the visitors’ faces and the happiness. They come here and they do something that they don’t do for the rest of the year. We have people travel amazing distances to come here, even from Bedford.”