ONE of the most keenly-fought races at Evesham Regatta this weekend will see teams stretching every nerve and sinew to secure the Evesham Journal Cup.
Twelve crews from across England and Wales will descend upon Evesham on Saturday to compete for the cup in the Novice Coxed Fours.
The event is strictly for rowers that have never won a regatta event and it is for that reason it is so important, as deputy chairman of Evesham Rowing Club Mark Dewdney said.
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He said: "Your novice pot' is always the one any rower remembers and getting a big trophy makes it just that little bit more special. I remember my novice win in 1999 and it is a special feeling.
"We will have 12 crews from places such as Swansea, Bristol, Upton, Llandaff, Cheltenham and, of course, Evesham competing for the cup this weekend."
The Evesham Journal Cup was presented to Evesham Rowing Club in 1935 when the Smith family ran the newspaper and Mr H Raymond Smith was a captain of the club. Whoever wins the cup on Saturday will not be able to take it back to their club however, following an incident in 1966.
Mr Dewdney said: "A crew from London won the Tower Trophy, which was made of silver and depicted the Evesham Bell Tower.
"At the time it was the third most valuable trophy in the country.
"Unfortunately when they took it back they kept it in a pub overnight and it was stolen and never seen again, so the trophy always stays in Evesham now."
The Evesham Regatta is on Saturday and Sunday with racing starting at 8.30am on both days.
The event is the biggest of the year at the rowing club and has attracted global attention with a sculler from ANA Club in Australia competing on Sunday.
Refreshments are available throughout the day, with music on Saturday evening and an Italian market on Sunday adding to the spectacle.
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