The members of Berwick Rowing Club were delighted to be looking out at blue sky and sunshine on Saturday morning for the running of their annual Trade Four’s Rowing Competition.  The Trade Fours is a community fun event with teams of 4 rowers made up of 1 club rower and 3 non rowers.  Several of this year’s crews have been practicing since early July which made for some exciting racing.  Thirteen crews, 6 ladies and 7 men’s took up the challenge.  It has to be said that the clever crew names and fancy dress costumes really added to the spirit of the day. 

The first race saw Fire Fly and Four to 1 take to the water.  The more experienced Four to 1 taking the win.  Parks Paddlers and Paul making their entrance in swimming caps, masks and Snorkels set an early pace to take the win over Berwick Garden Centre, although the Garden Centre were rowing with pots of flowers on their heads!  4 in a Row made their entry into the competition against last years winners this year calling themselves Tweed Bandits.  4 in a Row could not match the experience of Tweed Bandits.  Tweed Bandits then had to take on Jolly Anchors.  The race looked to be very close until the final stages where Tweed Bandits again showed their form by taking the win. 

In the ladies competition Cool Rowing complete with Jamaican flag and hard hats took on Fat Bottom Girls to start the ladies competition with Fat Bottom Girls smoothly making their way to the next round.  Pink Ladies and Wayne’s world were next on the water.  Wayne’s World rowed steadily to win by a narrow margin over the Pretty Pink Ladies.  In the last of the ladies heats Funkin Rownuts lined up against Return of the Super Heroes.  For what is thought to be the first time in the history of the Trade Four’s competition the race ended in a dead heat and both crews were sent back to the start to row again.  In the re match Funkin Rownuts piled on the pressure to make sure there was no doubt second time around. 

After several more races the Wooden Spoon Ladies final was ready to race between Return of the Super Heroes and Cool Rowing.  The returning Super Heroes must have used some of their super power as they took the Wooden Spoon title by 2 lengths.  The Men’s Wooden Spoon was Jolly Anchors and Fire Fly.  Jolly Anchors were not to leave empty handed as they took the title by 3 lengths. 

At the Start line of the Ladies Grand Final was Fat Bottom Girls and Funkin Rownuts.  Fat Bottom Girls were not going to let go of their Trade 4’s winners title without a fight but Funkin Rownuts challenged them all the way however Fat Bottom Girls (Sam Seaton, Michelle Williamson, Nicole Wilson and Susan Fairbairn) took the title for the second year running. 

The Men’s final was closer than close with both crews coming together at one point and the race having to be re rowed.  In the rematch Tweed Bandits (Neal Seaton, Gordon Johnston, Shea Grimsdale and Tim McColl) just squeezed past to win by the narrow margin of 6 feet and again retain their Trade 4’sTtitle.  As both winning crews have now won and retained their titles they face the bigger challenge of changing their crews for next year’s event. 

The members of Berwick Rowing Club would like to thank all participants for being such good sports, spectators for attending to support their crews and local Berwick Businesses, Morrisons, Marks and Spencer, The Cobbled Yard Hotel, Buds Florists, Jim Graham Men’s Wear, Berwick Electricals, Bijoux, David Adams and Thorntons for very kindly donating raffle prizes