FLADBURY repeated last year’s success to win the bell boating competition in the opening event of this season’s Wychavon Parish Games.

They edged out Drakes Broughton by two seconds in a hard-fought final on the River Avon in Pershore.

Although the conditions were wet earlier in the day, the crews were greeted by sunshine as they took to the water.

Ten parishes took part and, as expected, the competition was fierce.  The first heat of the day saw last year’s winners and runners-up drawn against each other, with Drakes Broughton beating Fladbury. 

At the end of the heats, the teams all took part in finals according to their times in the heats.

Both Fladbury and Drakes Broughton were in the main final along with Inkberrow.

This time, Fladbury overturned their defeat in the heat to edge out Drakes Broughton.

Inkberrow finished in third place, with Eckington fourth and Bretforton fifth, just ahead of their nearest rivals Badsey and Aldington in sixth.

Wyre Piddle were seventh, Honeybourne eighth, the returning Defford finished ninth and South Littleton 10th.

The next event is the men’s Chase Heating five-a-side on July 10, at Badsey Sports and Recreation Club. Draw sheets will be issued in the next fortnight.