A contingent took part in Rutherford Head of the River Race at the weekend.

Held on the River Tyne on the three mile Scotswood to Newburn course and raced against the clock, this traditional North-East end of season event attracted 103 entries from the North of England and Scotland. The race was held in morning and afternoon divisions.

Tees Rowing Club Veteran D (average age over 50) eight were up against opposition from old rivals Tyne RC and Durham ARC both of whom were racing in the next age category (over 55). This meant that to win the Tees men had to overcome the age related handicap which on this length of race was 40 seconds. With former Great Britain International Tony Stocking at stroke backed up by Hugh Pelham at seven the rest of the crew was Richard Harandon, Alan Parsons, John Green, Dick Wilkinson, Chris Kenyon and Dilwyn Jones and John Heron was cox. The Tees men stormed past crews less than half their age and covered the course in 17 minutes 43.6 seconds. When the handicap was taken into account they had beaten Tyne by 40 seconds and Durham by three minutes 35 seconds.

Earlier this season three members of Tees RC - David and Johnnie Cooper and Paul Buckworth - won gold medals at The National Veteran Championships. Last weekend they took part in a much different event, The Scullers Head of the River Race which is raced, against the clock, over the same four and a quarter mile stretch of the Thames as the University Boat Race. The top 50 almost reads like a British International role of honour so to finish 66th out of 450 1 minute 10 seconds behind the winner was an excellent result for Paul Buckworth. Johnnie Cooper was sixth in the Veteran B section (149th overall) and brother David was 12th (219th overall).

Outgoing captain, Andy Pickering, reported an excellent season for the club which had scored 77 regatta wins and won both the men's and women's sections of the Northern Division League Championship. Over the past two years, which include the move to the new River Tees Watersports Centre, membership has increased by 60 per cent. Tees Regatta broke all records as did Tees Long Distance Sculls.

The following Officers were elected: captain - Stuart Taylor. Vice Captains - Helen Lawson and Stuart Lightfoot. Secretary - Victoria Laing. Treasurer - Jane Vaslet. Safety Advisor - Steve Vaslet. Facilities Manager - Ian Smith. Paul Buckworth was elected an Honorary Life Member in recognition of his services to the club.