Tees Rowing Club The Slipway North Shore Stockton-on-Tees TS18 2NL

1980s

1980

Tees RC win Boston Marathon (31 miles Lincoln to Boston).

1981

Paul Johnson wins Gold medal for Junior 18 single sculls at National Championships and wins for England at Home Countries International.

Tees RC 2nd in NE League.

Three Generations

Our 1981 Donoratico coxed four is named after Ann Storry, the late mother of former Captain and President David Storry. As this was the first Tees boat to be named after a lady the name “Lady Ann” was deemed appropriate. Here David does the honours with the champagne watched by his father and his son Richard.

Frances with Builder and Crew

In 1981 the Club bought a new coxless pair/double scull from Browns of Durham. This was the first boat of this type built by the company following their resumption of racing boat construction after the death of Erik Brown. The boat was named Frances and officially baptised a year later – see below story. She had a very successful first season crewed as a coxless pair by Shaun Wanless and John Inman who are seen here with her, their pots and Erik Whiteley of Browns. Lots more trophies were to follow for other Tees RC members and many of our Juniors began their sculling careers in Frances. Sadly at the end of 2000 when she was some 20 years old she came off worst in a collision and was deemed to be a write off.

1982

Paul Johnson wins Silver medal in senior sculls at National Championships and wins for England in senior sculls at Home Countries. Joins National Sculling Squad at Marlow.

Frances with Frances

At Tees Long Distance Sculls in 1982 we were delighted to welcome back to Teesside former Tees RC Captain Dr. John Hilton and his wife Frances for the naming of our Browns built coxless pair/double scull. They came well prepared as you may spot from the “case” under the bows, one of the contents of which Frances is using to name the boat in the time honoured way.

1983

Winners of the Durham Grand

Tees RC win Grand Challenge Cup at Durham Regatta for first time since 1907. Here in appropriate Edwardian pose are L-R: John Inman, Peter Mackfall, Graham Calvert and Kevin Senior.

International Honours

Sculling for Gt. Britain Paul Johnson finishes 6th at World Under 23 Championships and reaches final of Double Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta.

Paul Johnson was one of the most sucessful scullers to have been produced by Tees RC. Among his many achievements he won the Gold Medal for Juniors at the National Championships in 1981 and the following year the Silver Medal in the Senior event.He represented England at the Home Countries International in 1981 and 1982 in Junior and Senior sculls respectively using a boat sponsored by Flymo (North East). He went on to join the National Sculling Squad at Marlow.

Alison Wood (later to become Mrs. Graham Calvert) wins Silver medal in Junior Under 16 single sculls at National

Championships and gold for England at Home Countries International. Alison took up sculling as part of her Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. Both Paul and Alison benefitted from boat sponsorship from Flymo.

Elite 4+ at Hexham

Yet to rewrite the club’s record book at Durham, the 1983 elite crew are pictured here having given an indication of their potential at sunny Hexham. L-R: Kevin Senior, John Inman, Graham Calvert, Peter mackfall and cox Tim Mallon.

1984

Old trailer (1959) sold and replaced with new four wheel unit built by Tees member Terry Leonard.

1st Vlll again finish 43rd in Tideway Head.

Yarm school introduced to rowing – hosted at TRC.

50th anniversary of opening of Newport Bridge.

Tees members in British Dragon Boat crew which is the first to have reached the final of the Hong Kong International Event.

1985

Boathouse environment improved when Stockton Council tarmac lane access lane , forecourt and part of riverside path.

New Reredos built Tracer sculling boat bought sponsored by Goom and Wearmouth, Estate Agents – named “Linda” after wife of partner Barrington Wearmouth.

Coaching launch stolen.

TRC 6th in NE League.

1986

“Demonstrator” Empacher Vlll purchased, funds used included a bequest from the late Mr. R Storry.

TRC 5th in NE League.

Chris Kenyon Chairman of Finance for World Rowing Championships at Nottingham.

1987

New Eight named “Harold Macmillan Earl of Stockton” at Stockton Regatta by his grandson Alexander, the present Earl.

Tees Vlll reach final of Daf Power Sprints.

1988

Teesside Development Corporation announce that a Barrage is to be built just below Tees Regatta start thus making the river upstream of this non tidal.

Plans for a new Water Sports Centre start to be discussed.

TRC 5th in NE League.

An early attempt to popularise rowing on TV was made in the late 1980s by Channel 4 with sponsorship from Leyland Daf. Racing was in the form of a series of regional knockout sprints over 500 metres. Tees RC took part and the eight reached the final at Bristol one year. This poster – which seems to prove that Gary Bettinson like Dorian Gray has a picture in the attic – was one of the publicity items. Kevin Senior is behind Gary. The Tees club vests are partly obscured by the “Leyland Daf bibs” which each crew (in a different coloured bib) had to wear.

1989

The 125th Anniversary of Tees Rowing Club.

This photo, taken at the 125 Dinner, is of all the surviving post war Past Presidents (except Frank Hall who was unable to attend) with the then incumbent Chris Kenyon. Looking from L-R: David Storry, Roger Chicken, CK, Tom Nattrass, John Roe and Roy Smith. How many of them can you spot in the Hartlepool photo in the earlier story?

Aquajog sculling boat bought and named “Jeff Lake”.

Outboard engine stolen – ICI give £500 donation to assist with cost of replacement.

TRC win Victor Ludorum and £500 at Berwick Regatta.