CREWS from across the north of England descended on Chester on Saturday for a bumper Dee Autumn Head.
Conditions were ideal for the annual event run by Grosvenor Rowing Club as competitors and spectators basked in the autumnal sun.
The host club won a haul of medals in the morning division.
Grosvenor’s veteran men’s masters C quad, comprising Paul Larby, John McMahon, Mike Allwood and Ian Tweedie, beat a boat made up of their clubmates to win their race.
There was success for Abigail Sedgwick, Louise Tobias, Laura Antrobus and Leanne Ratcliffe in the women’s IM2 quad while Janet Vorberg gave an impressive performance to take the women’s masters A/C/D single sculls title.
First race nerves did not have an impact on Grosvenor’s novice women’s crew of Naomi Forrester, Francesca Gregory, Bridie-Kate Curran, Roxanna Woodward and cox Kirstie Kavanagh, who beat their nearest rivals by 20 seconds to win in style.
Three of the crew are graduates of the club’s ‘Learn to Row’ programme. For more information on the programme contact Chris on 07970 950704 or visit www.grosvenor-rowingclub.org.uk.
In the afternoon division, Steve Walker continued his winning streak by claiming first place in the masters E/F/H single sculls race.
Students from Queen’s Park High School’s rowing club were in good form on the Dee.
The J17 coxless four of Joel Langmead, Ben Archer, Struan Fishburn and James McDermott came second in their race and were the third fastest junior crew in the morning.
There was also a second-placed finish for Leon Langmead in the J16 single sculls.
The school’s sole crew to win medals were the impressive WJ13 coxed quad of Rona Fishburn, Eve Finlay, Felicity Weir, Samantha McIlwaine and cox Emily Cox.
A host of medals also went the way of Royal Chester Rowing Club and The King’s School Chester.
