SCORCHING temperatures accompanied Bewdley Rowing Club's 125th annual regatta with crews competing from across the country.

The top club was Reading who won the Victor Ludorum Trophy for most wins (19) but the host club also enjoyed a successful weekend with 18 victories.

Hundreds of people gathered on the banks of the River Severn to watch the two-day spectacle and local crews from Worcester, Stourport, Evesham and Hereford were among those taking part.

With boats racing every two minutes it required a tremendous amount of organisation and regatta chairman Bob Bayliss paid tribute to Bewdley's club members who all chipped in to make the event a success.

"We were inspected by the Umpires Commission and they could find no fault with its organisation - they were very impressed," he said.

"It was our usual big entry from around the country and it was a brilliant weekend's racing.

"With races at two minute intervals there are two crews on and off every two minutes and the fact it ran so smoothly is due to the hard work of everybody at the club.

"The blazing sunshine also added to the event and we also had terrific support from the town in terms of sponsorship."

Spectators were treated to some fierce competition including one dead heat.