Tees Rowing Club members had a hectic time last weekend with the Senior Women Rowers taking on the challenge from the top clubs from the Continent and from all over Britain and in particular from the Tideway, in the Women's Eights Head of the River which is an annual event held on the River Thames over the same stretch of water as the Oxford and Cambridge boat race.

Men from Tees took the less arduous journey to Newburn on the Tyne to compete in the Tyne Head of the River. This annual event is held on a very testing course and makes for ideal preparation for the men's Head of the River and the Vesta International Veterans Head of the River to be held in a fortnight's time on March 20/21st.

Tees Veteran D Eight(Over 55), was the fastest crew in Division 1 by 4 secs after handicap had been taken into account. The Tees crew of Tor Taverner, Paul Reevell, Richard Harandon, Bob Bainbridge, John Green, Paul Buckworth, Dilwyn Jones (Stroke) and John Heron (cox) won their event in 17mins 10.7 secs, beating several much younger crews in the process. Paul Buckworth, National Veteran Sculling Champion (Vet A), forsaked his sculling boat to join with his rowing clubmates having just returned from a fascinating trek in Northern Norway mushing a team of huskies for fun.

Tees Veteran C Eight (over 45) took the honours in Division 2 in a time of 19min 30.4 to make it a clean sweep for Tees Rowing Club in the Veteran classes at the Head of the Tyne. The Tees Vet C crew comprised (Bow) John Harrison, Bryan Baldwin, Craig Noel, Dilwyn Jones, Steven Leigh, Paul Stiller, Guy Allen and Cox John Heron.

The winning eights from Tees were presented with engraved pint tankards.

Two Tees Rowing Club Senior 3 4+ crews contested a strong entry of Senior Men's crews in Division 2. Tees RC (Lofts) Senior 3 4+ crew returned a time of 20min 59.9 whilst Tees (Pickering) produced the time of 21 min 31.4. The Senior 3 4+ crews will now finalise their training by combining in the eight that is entered for the Head of the River, their next event.

Women's Head of the River

It was very much reunion day on the Thames last weekend when Tees Rowing Club ladies made the long journey to the Tideway to contest the Women's Head of the River. Spotted amongst entries of over 250 crews were several distant Tees Rowing Club members.

Joanne Lywood of Tees, now at University, was in the Osiris crew which finished 6/265; Sarah Gardener of Tees rowed in the bow seat of the Mortlake eight; Katy Wilkinson was also in the bow seat of the St. Andrews University eight having made the long journey South; local girl Helena Malcolm, also at University in Loughborough, had won a seat in the Loughborough University eight. Jane Green, who learnt her rowing at Tees, daughter of John Green of Tees Rowing Club, was in the Senior 2 Eight of City of Bristol Rowing Club which finished 87/265 in a fast time of 20min 56.85 secs.

It was also a family affair for two of Tees Veteran rowers, Tony Stocking and Janet Wilkinson. Tony (GB World bronze medallist) coxed the eight in which his daughter Sarah was rowing, whilst Janet rowed in the same crew as daughter Ruth. Both Janet and Tony have extensive experience of Tideway competition, but it was Tony's crew who took the honours with a time of 22min 17.6 secs finishing well up the order in their very first Head of the River race. Janet's crew completed the course in a time of 23min 56.9secs.

Not to be outdone, sisters Lucy and Fiona Ventress of Tees competed on the Tideway together.

The Tideway crews were:

Tees RC A (Bow) Amanda Noel, Fiona Ventress, Lucy Ventress, Sarah Stocking, Ruth Wilkinson, Sarah Harker, Janet Wilkinson, Str Angela Warburton (Cox) Tony Stocking

Tees RC B (Bow) Helen Lawson, Pauline Park, Vicky Hunnam, Claire Fletcher, Vicky Phelan, Sue Waring, Deborah Ashurst, Str Mel Tweddle

Durham ARC

Durham Amateur Rowing Club traveled to York last weekend to take part in the Yorkshire Head. The event is held over a 5.1km course on the river Ouse near the center of the city, and ran over two divisions and a still dry day brought excellent racing conditions.

The club took a total of 15 crews, all of which produced a high standard of racing.

There were some excellent results, but the ladies S3 quad (M Hogan, R Terry, H Stainthorpe and D Connolly) was probably the best result of the day. The quad was a composite Durham/City of Sunderland who produced a terrific result against some very good quality opposition.

Once again, the MJ15 quad (D Howie, J Preston, R Hartley, A Turner, cox C Howie), came away with a win. The boys produced a superb row, pulling out a win over a very classy looking Yarm quad. Christopher Howie produced a fantastic display, proving the cox is a vital part of a crew.

Further wins on the day were achieved by the a composite Durham/City of Sunderland WS3 Double Scull (M Hogan, D Connelly), W Vet C double (S Stainforth, R Terry), WS4 Double Scull (J West, F Bellsey) and finally the Veteran E eight, stroked by M Tyler, who produced Durham's fastest time of the day.

With the nights starting to get lighter, the club is in full swing for another busy season, but it is not too late to start.

* Anyone interested in rowing at Durham can log onto www.durham-arc.org.uk or simply telephone the club on 0191 386 6431