FOUR former rowers helped to launch a new boat at Christchurch Rowing Club last week.

The new boat – a coastal four – was named by Peter Staddon in his honour and launched by the senior four he coxed 50 years ago in 1963.

The crew of Paddy Lanary, Mike Green, George Chester and Peter Trist had not been together in a boat since the season when they won the Open Senior Fours at the South Coast Championships held in Bideford.

The boat, a coastal four, is one of a growing number built in Christchurch by Rossiter Rowing Boats and uses state-of-the-art construction and materials including Kevlar and carbon fibre to the original Marlin design by John Bailey of Southampton Rowing Club.

The second boat to be named and launched, a coxless river pair/double, was in honour of Mike Chester who stood down recently as Club Secretary after at least fifteen years of tireless efforts. Although having only a brief rowing career, Mike has been a loyal supporter of Christchurch Rowing Club for almost 50 years.

The newly named coastal boat will have its first race at this year’s South Coast Championship thanks to a revision in the Hants and Dorset season.

In a surprise announcement, the West of England ARA (Amateur Rowing Association) revealed they would be unable to put forward any senior crews to contest the championship.