Due to heavy rain throughout the week, it was touch and go as to whether this year’s Trade Fours Rowing Competition would go ahead.  Luck was surely on side as competitors gathered for the fun regatta which could be referred to as the alternative “Henley of the North”.  Crews are made up of one club rower and 3 people who are new to the sport with fancy dress being optional.  Racing is side by side in a knockout competition.  After four weeks training and with some crews only having a couple of sessions, everyone did exceptionally well.   A fantastic entry of 18 crews – 8 men’s, 5 women’s and 5 mixed, in varying degrees of fancy dress from Smurfs, Santa, Penelope Pipstop, Muttley to animals and ducks!

It was Tough at the Top versus 3 Rowers and a Doylem into the final of the hotly contested men’s event with Tough at the Top taking the winning title.  The men’s wooden spoon was won by Row Ho Ho who were up against the Dark Knights.  In the women’s event Rowers Ark won after a re-row due to a near collision with the Tweed Bandits.  Rub a Dub Dub lost out to Trout’s in Tu Tu’s for the women’s wooden spoon.  There was a touch of sibling rivalry in the mixed final with twin sisters Hannah and Rowena Park racing against each other.  Rowena’s crew - Where’s our Wally were out in front from the start and went on to win the mixed title, against Hannah’s Wacky Rowers.  The mixed wooden spoon was won by Rowing Friends after a very close race against Top Gun.

Berwick ARC would like to thank the following crews:- Four in a Row, Trowel Monkeys, Adams Family, Dark Knights, 3 Rowers and a Doylem, Row Ho Ho, Smurfin’ USA, Tough at the Top, Rub a Dub Dub, Rowers Ark, Tweed Bandits, Trouts in Tu Tu’s, Simply Quackers, Where’s our Wally, Pirates of the Tweed, Top Gun, Rowing Friends and the Wacky Rowers.  We would also like to thank the many spectators who turned out to support the crews, the band “She” who made it a fantastic end to a great day and finally all the volunteers who made the day possible.