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