THE banks of the River Severn in Stourport were full to bursting as The Running Horse pipped ladies' team Splash Crew to the post.

A grand final victory for the Bewdley pub earned them the Stourport Boat Club Works Fours Regatta title out of a starting field of 32 teams.

They won the pubs and clubs section on a day of racing which attracted the spectators despite less taking part than usual, while Splash Crew stormed the women's division.

In the other two categories, Smart Central Vacuums were works' victors and a Stourport Rugby Club team claimed the crown in the repechage for teams beaten at the first stage.

Regatta organiser Leslie Beddow said: "It was a great day. The river bank was crowded with people and there seemed to be a lot of people inquiring afterwards about doing a bit of racing here.

"We held a repechage competition as well so that the crews could have at least two races on the day."

The regatta seemed to be popular with the medical industry as plenty of physios and doctors competed, while there were some exciting close contests.

One clash saw the Kinetika Krew eventually beat Pump and Squirts in the Works Division but only after three races following two dead heats.

Krew reached the final but lost to Smart Central Vacuums who eventually went out in the last four to impressive women's team Splash Crew.

Beddow added: "Sometimes the ladies do well because their technique is better and others try a bit too hard which slows them down.

"In fact, a ladies' team won the title two years ago. They do have a bit of a head-start though against men's teams but just a length."

The day also saw local guides doing face painting and people raising funds for Leukemia care.

The boat club hold their annual regatta on August 13 and 14.