Members of Runcorn Rowing Club took part in the Vesta’s Scullers Head on the River Thames

Jan 19 2012 Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

RUNCORN Rowing Club said goodbye to 2011 with a flurry of well earned achievements and is now looking forward to great racing in this the Olympic Year.

A small contingent of dedicated rowers once again travelled south and took part in the prestigious Vesta’s Scullers Head on the River Thames in early December.

This is the largest single-division processional single sculls race in the world and every year attracts entries from all over the country and overseas.

The 4.25mile race was on the championship course from Mortlake to Putney and had over 460 entries from Internationals to Novices.

Sam Edwards achieved a fantastic result. He completed the course in 21.53.07, coming 26th overall and was the second fastest in the Mens Senior 1 category.

Juan García Reyes was the 6th fastest in the Mens Elite category, completing it in a respectable 22:10:57 and achieved 46th place overall.

George Patrick raced in Intermediate Mens 2.Lightweight category. He achieved a great time of 22:17.43, came second in his category and 54th overall.

At the same time Henry Pettinger-Harte raced further up the Thames at Hampton Small Boats Head.

Racing over 3,000m downstream from Sunbury Lock to Hampton, Henry came 5th in the Mens Junior 17 category. His time of 10:23:1 placed him 97th out of the 664 entries.

Henry is one of three Juniors, with Annie Rogers and Poppy Burgess, who are currently in the Junior GB Trials programme.

More locally Runcorn rowers attended the Head of the Float hosted by Liverpool Victoria RC. They raced two 500m legs in the docks at Birkenhead.

Dave Street, George Perrin, Kevin Reynolds and Graham Sunners won the Masters D/E Mens Quad category in an amalgamated time of 4mins 24.

In the same category, Eric Bennett, John Kervin, Nick Pettet and Damian Parkinson came closely behind in a time of 4mins 44.

The Womens Novice Eight having battled extremely windy conditions and racing publically in ‘Sir Roger Bannister’ for the first time, completed in a respectable 6mins 14.

The crew members were Lorraine Reynolds (cox), Bethan Royles, Clare Burnside, Catherine Odita, Beverley Johnstone, Julie Jones, Elizabeth Brohan, Sian Fitzmaurice, Faye Stewart.

They are part of a growing newly established Ladies Competition squad, with an age range of 24 to 51, all from the local community. Six are from the successful ‘Yearning to Row’ scheme and have only been sweep rowing for over 6 month.

Runcorn Rowing Club is now preparing hard for 2012, with its sights set on many local, regional and National events, as well as rowing for pleasure. The first will be the 3000m Boston Head on Sunday 22 January.

This will be a challenge as some of the rowers will be attending a charity Rowathon at Tesco’s, in Helsby the day before!

On Saturday, Runcorn Rowing Club/Tesco will be holding a nine Hour Rowathon at the Superstore to help raise money for both the club and Tesco’s charity, Alzheimer’s Society.

Two teams consisting of Runcorn rowers and Tesco staff, will row against each other on Concept 2 indoor rowing machines, the equivalent distance from Tesco, Helsby to Alzheimer's Regional office, Warrington and back.

Between 8am and 5pm, this joint venture intends to inspire the local community by demonstrating that sport including rowing, can support a healthier life style, be accessed by all ages and abilities, allows you to make new friends in the community and most of all be fun. Do come along and gives some support.