Ipswich rowers Bev Goodchild and Jen Titterington began their summer racing season in great style at Dorney Lake, venue of the 2012 Olympics, by winning the Winterbrook Challenge Cup for Women’s Club Double Sculls.

This regatta, organised by Wallingford Rowing Club, has become a nationally significant event, attracting the best crews from the top rowing clubs around the country.

The Ipswich Rowing Club pair have been out on the River Orwell on a daily basis throughout the winter, training hard in preparation for the summer racing season, with their main object to race at the Women’s Henley Regatta.

The Wallingford event was a crucial stepping stone on the route to this event and they began their journey in great style.

Their first race was a semi-final against five other crews. From the gun, the Ipswich pair cruised convincingly out into the lead with a masterful display of quality rowing and by the half-way stage were so far in front that they seemed to be part of the previous race and not attached to the race group trailing behind!

The other semi-final resulted in a convincing win for their main opponents from Nottingham RC, placing them side-by-side in the centre lanes for the final, later in the day.

A swift start from each crew edged them both into a lead over the rest of the field but at the critical transition into the racing rhythm the talented Ipswich pair seized the advantage and squeezed out a one metre lead at the 250 metre mark.

By 500 metres the relaxed and smooth technique from Goodchild and Titterington had driven them out to a full boat’s length and a well timed push at half distance broke their opposition, resulting in an unassailable four-length lead.

They continued to distance the field, winning by a very creditable six lengths.

Coach Chris Jillings said: “I could not be happier with the way they performed today.

“They have spent many hundreds of hours of gruelling training up and down the Orwell throughout the winter and when it came to race day they carried out the plan to perfection.

“Their victory is just reward for their hard work and dedication throughout the long hours of training and challenging winter weather.”