Rowing: Runcorn rowers rise to challenge in head of the river events on the Thames and Irwell

Oct 29 2009 Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

WATERWAYS in London and Salford provided Runcorn Rowing Club with two challenging events but great results were achieved in contrasting weather.

The high-profile Pairs Head on the River Thames saw 470 boats battle against each other and the clock over the renowned 4,000m course from Chiswick to Hammersmith Bridge. Wind and a strong current made rowing tricky but three of Runcorn’s six boats won.

There was a nailbiting wait for results as adjudicators sorted very close times.

George Perrin and Matthew Hackett won the Veterans’ D category in 12 minutes 48 seconds. Rosa Atkinson and Amy Grieve triumphed in the Women’s J18 (13:41) while Runcorn’s Val Edwards joined Rebecca Caygill of Hollingworth Lake to take the women’s Vet C race in (13:40).

Sam Edwards and Alistair Hudson-Kirkham came fourth in the J18 Double category in 12: 37 – a brilliant result as only four seconds split the first four boats from the winners, who completed in 12:33. George Patrick and Alistair Young, still J17 rowers, finished a creditable seventh in the J18 (12:48). Fae Atkinson and Frankie Sinnott got a useful fourth place at J16 in 14:16.

Up in the North West, other club members on the same day attended Agecroft Small Boats Head on the River Irwell. Seven boats entered in three divisions over 3,250m course, finishing at the Lowry Footbridge in Salford Quays.

In almost perfect rowing conditions – sunshine, light winds and flat calm water – Annie Rogers and Catherine Hunt won the WJ15 Double in 13:19.76. The J14 boys’ coxed quad – Liam Street, George McCormick, David McLellan, Sam Pierce and cox Calvin Perchard – were fourth in 13:29:86. Street and McCormick as J14 Double runner-up in 14:19.70 were five seconds off the winning pace. Ben Reeves secured a creditable second place in J16 Double with 13:04:24, just 2.5 secs behind the winner. The Men’s Vet Four – Dan Norcross, Duncan McLellan, Kevin Reynolds and Graham Sunners, coxed by David McLellan – crossed third in 12:17.60. Luke Roberts and Francis Hunt (J18 Double) were fourth in 12:32.00. In a time-only result, due to having no opposition, Runcorn's 'umpire' crew of Heidi Hackett and Ian Fisher rowed the course in 14:29:02.