ROWING: ROYAL Chester will be seeking their 10th win in the North of England Head of the River Race on the Dee tomorrow.
They start in front of their oldest rivals, Agecroft, who recently won the Runcorn Head.
The entry of 83 eights is the lowest for 15 years, but the number of junior crews competing in quadruple sculls continues to climb in the 70th year of the event.
The race from Eccleston Ferry to Dee Lane will run in two divisions, starting with 42 veteran and women's eights in the morning (10.30am) followed by 20 junior quads in four age groups.
In the afternoon (2.30), two crews each from Royal Chester and Agecroft will head the 42 eights contesting the headship. Manchester University will be making a triple bid to repeat their hat-trick in lower classes at Runcorn, where Agecroft beat Grosvenor for the overall race title.
There will be 25 crews from Chester contesting 21 classes. Royal Chester have three veteran eights in the morning race and will be followed by Grosvenor and Royals, heading the women's crews. At the tail of the procession, King's School and Royals will be contesting three of the classes in junior quads.
