ROWING: THE Chester Long Distance Sculling race once again attracted quality crews to compete over the head course from Eccleston to Dee Lane.
Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club took the top single scull honours with Craig Morgan repeating his 2004 win in Elite sculls in 19 mins 44secs and the Walczak twins, Lucy and Ruth, sharing the women's title.
St Leonard's School Boat Club junior quad were the fastest crew boat on the day in 17 mins 27 secs, closely followed by a Grosvenor RC/Hollingworth Lake RC composite crew and winners of the senior 1 quads in 17 mins 35 secs.
Local crews took their fair share of the status wins with the honours spread evenly. Royal Chester Rowing Club had six wins in total and collected the Victor Ludorum Club Shield. The junior section performed well with wins in senior four singles for David Pickering, junior 16 doubles (George Rae and Jack Lavine) and women's junior 15 singles for Natalie Richmond-Illes. They were ably supported by the veterans, Tim Birtwistle winning veteran C singles and veteran B doubles with Paul Johnston. Jim Higgins and John Caruthers of Liverpool Victoria RC won the veteran G doubles.
Grosvenor Rowing Club also collected medals for senior two singles (Simon Speed) and senior three singles (Tim Betteridge). The young Queen's Park High School squad performed well with wins in junior 15 singles (M Adam), junior 14 singles(C Jones)and the women's junior coxed quad of Rose Butters, Kate Pilling, Alice Watson and Amy Jones cox Bridget Collin.
Kings School sculler N Fearhead was fifth overall, taking the junior single title in 20 mins 11 secs, challenging the seniors hard. Other wins were junior 15 double sculls (Impfield and Ducker), Novice double sculls (P Walker and M Mackay) and junior 15 coxed quads (Calderhead, Butterfield, Burn, Fanshaw and cox Alexander).
