Twenty nine Bedford Star Rowing Club athletes, plus their support team, travelled to the 2025 World Masters Rowing Regatta held in Banyoles, Spain during the week of 8th – 14th September 2025.

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In five days of highly competitive international rowing the Squad won 15 races, returning to the UK with 55 medals.  The Club made 68 entries and over 58% of races involving Bedford Star squad members resulted in first, second or third placings in the 8-lane racing over the Banyoles former Olympic course. Where appropriate, Bedford Star Club formed composite crews with other clubs to provide outstanding competitive racing.

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Rowing conditions during the Regatta were variable though always warm with intermittent sunshine.  Thunderstorms and flooding plagued Monday though the weather was generally more agreeable during racing days except for Saturday, when thunderstorms postponed racing for a couple of hours.  On the whole, water conditions were very good with only a short spell of rough water on Wednesday. 

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A novel innovation was to offer Bedford Star coxes to other crews for their races, in addition to coxing the Bedford Star Boats.  These coxes gained a good reputation very quickly and were sought after throughout the regatta.  Consequently they gained further valuable experience, eventually steering 20 crews from all over the world, winning 3 gold medals in the process.  

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Wins for Bedford Star (BS) and BS composite crews were as follows : 

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Day 1 - Wednesday afternoon :

• Mens E4+           (BS (cox) Composite with CRR/TRM)

• Womens D2x     (BS composite with FEC)

 

Day 2 - Thursday :

• Mens I-M 4+ 

• Womens G-M 8+    (BS composite with Milton Keynes RC)

 

Day 3 - Friday 

• Womens D8+    (BS (cox) composite with AdelU/CCBC/MOLE)

• Mens H4+

 

Day 4 - Saturday:

• Mens G4+

• Mens F4+

• Mens G1

• Womens E4+     (BS composite with FEC/UTH)

 

Day 5 – Sunday  :

• Mixed B8+        (BS (cox) composite with KR)

• Mixed F8+  

• Mixed G8+

• Mixed 2x

• Mixed 4x        (BS composite with TSS/MRC/MRC/HOL)

 

Camaraderie and team spirit were very high throughout the squad with supporters giving the most excellent assistance in boating, organising social events and solving logistical and transport issues. Of particular note were the rowing leadership and overall organisation by Kevan Armstrong, boat transport logistics by Nick Holland and the transportation of the boats to and from Banyoles by Mike Baker and his team.  

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A member of the World Masters Rowing Committee exclaimed in conversation that Bedford Star was ‘a big club’.  Given the squad size of just 29 rowers (cf 70 in other club squads) Star Bedford ‘punches well above its weight’ (as expressed by Kevan Armstrong - Squad Leader), and the results bode well for participation in future international events.