Pulling together

Henley Rowing Club helped raise £1,200 for a charity which supports stem cell research into motor neurone disease. The club teamed up with charity All About Alie to host a fund-raiser. The day started off with a fun mixed doubles event, encouraging competitors of all ages to race against each other in exciting knock outs. Brother and sister team James and Georgie Robinson took home the trophy.

The afternoon consisted of two eights racing against each other over 250m. Prior to the event, three seats in each boat had been auctioned off, giving the highest bidders a chance to experience the speed and expertise of experienced athletes.

In the Bucks boat was stroke Brendan Edwards (Henley RC), Tim Wallis-Caddel (Maidenhead RC), Hannah Smith (Henley RC), Natalie Atkinson (Henley RC) and Alastair Harsant (Henley RC) with cox Zoe Lord (Upper Thames RC). Racing against them was the Berks boat containing stroke Jasper van der Valk (King’s College London BC), Ollie Ford (Henley RC), Andy Pettican (Henley RC), Lauren Kay (Henley RC) and Alex Maytum (Henley RC) with cox Emma Lister (Henley RC). All About Alie was set up by Alie Tilley after she was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in February. She died earlier this year.