Durham Amateur Rowing Club celebrates the start of the New Year with the award of Sport England's Clubmark.

This is a National kite marked accreditation, which signifies Durham ARCs commitment to being a safe, effective child friendly club. After the initial pilot scheme, we are the first rowing club to receive this award.

After all the festivities are over, it is back to the river, with Durham ARC holding the small Boats Head on February 7.

Over 1000 competitors from all over the North of England and Southern Scotland will race from the Count's house, by Prebend's bridge, upstream, to just beyond the Band Stand on the racecourse section of the river. The race is held over four divisions, the start times being 9am, 11am, 1pm and 3pm.

Come and have a walk along the riverbanks, watch some racing and then come visit us at the boathouse, where refreshments will be available all day.

The club is also in the planning stages of a new boathouse so people are invited to have a look at what the club are doing.

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