Rowing

This watercolour by an unknown artist depicts an informal regatta at Bedford in 1851. The first official Regatta took place on 25 August 1853 and its success encouraged the development of the river for sport and leisure. The Embankment area as we know it today was laid out in the 1870s and 1880s. New societies were also formed: Bedford Angling Club (1872) was followed by Bedford Rowing Club (1886). (Courtesy The Higgins)

The River Great Ouse at Bedford has helped to shape the town's trading, leisure and sporting heritage, as well as providing a training ground for the town's Olympic rowers. Swimming, rowing and sailing have featured from the first modern Olympics in 1896; canoeing (sprint) was added in 1936, followed by canoeing (slalom) in 1992 (after a one-off event in 1972).

Timothy 'Tim' James Carrington Foster, MBE (born 1970), a former pupil of Bedford Modern School, competed in the coxed eights at the 1992 Olympics before turning to the coxless fours. After a bronze in Atlanta in 1996, he won gold in the world championships in 1997 and 1998, then followed that with gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics as the fourth member of the famous crew of Sir Steve Redgrave, Sir Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell. He retired in 2001.(Courtesy Beds Times & Citizen)

Jack Beresford, CBE, (1899-1977), attended Bedford School where he took the position of stroke in the eights and also captained the rugby football XV. Amongst many rowing honours, he won five medals (3 gold and two silver) at successive Olympic Games between 1920 and 1936. (Courtesy The Higgins)