ROWING: The senior squad at Stourport Boat Club are looking forward to future major competitions after finishing the head season on a high.

Both the ladies' senior two eight and the men's veterans team impressed at the Northwich Head of the River contest, following a successful outing at the River Thames competition.

An unchanged ladies' crew proved they would be a boat to contend with in the summer over the shorter distance, completing the course in nine minutes 37 seconds, just behind a well-drilled Agecroft team.

Spurred on by cox Carol Hough, stroke girl Sarah Hough, supported by Helen Winter, ensured the boat was moving at a good pace.

Harriet Hannon, Lucy Handley, Lucy Doward and Lesley Bedows powered on, while Annie Conway and Jane Perkins in the bow provided the steadying platform.

They were pleased with the outing and now hope for their new boat in time for Shrewsbury Regatta on May 21.

The men's veteran squad needed to make a couple of changes so they rowed at senior two status.

In the second division, they rowed two senior two coxed fours as a warm-up but provided a thrilling encounter, aided by junior coxes Harriet Conway and Emma Perkins.

After a brief rest, a relaxed eight hoped to mark the start of a busy summer sprint schedule and they powered home in 8-20.

Cox C Hough was focused and stroke man Pete Spencer soon had the rowing rate up with Mark Betson transferring the rhythm down the boat.

Ian Hough, Chris Morson, Tim Haywood and Paul Danby kept the pressure on over the full 2,300m, while Simon Rush and Andy Hough in the bow maintained the level platform.

The squad has the National Veteran Championships in May and Henley Veterans in July along with a full programme in between.

Stourport sent a much-reduced junior contingent to Northwich but those who competed over the 2,300m course did extremely well in difficult conditions.

In the first division, Jess Danby (women's J14) and Alex Gavin (men's J16) sculled impressively for times of 11-45 and 11-15 respectively.

Nicola Price and H Conway produced a crowd-pleasing 13-12 in the open J13 double.

J Danby teamed up with Beck Perkins in the Second Division women's J14 double to finish second in 11-13.

Rupert Conway and Ashley Price put in a strong finish to win the senior three status in 9-11.

The duo were again in action in the Third Division at their J16 status, beating their previous time by 16 seconds, only to suffer a two-minute penalty for steering.

The juniors are now training for the first big sprint event in Nottingham on May 5 when they compete for the area in the Regional Championships.