TWO Hexham rowing clubs delivered strong performances at the inaugural Chester-Le-Street Invitational Head Race.

British Rowing are encouraging a new format of event which reduces travel and the number of clubs competing to lessen the risk of Covid-19 infections. Any club can organise an invitational challenge event with up to three other local clubs. Chester-Le-Street Rowing Club were the first club in the region to organise such an event for themselves, Cambois RC, Hexham RC and QEHS RC.

Queen Elizabeth High School Rowing Club had seven event wins including the fastest men’s and women’s crews of the day.

The crew of Halle Seymour, Annie Russell, Charlotte Goodson, and Katrine Connor were the fastest women’s crew of the day racing in the WJ16 coxless quad event.

The coxless quad crew of Christian Ryan, Robbie Collen, Ben Archer, and Will Dyer, moving up from being J16 last season to Junior 18, were the fastest men’s crew of the day.

Other wins for QEHS RC came from Ben Ryrie and Ned Gibbard J18 Double Scull; Daisy McClintock WJ16 single scull; Freya Collen and Rachel Huddleston WJ14/WJ15 double sculls; Jessie Stith, Daisy Christopher, Zara Holtham, Esme Russell WJ18 coxless quad; Jacob Williams, Edward Dando, Robbie Palmer, Tom Halford coxed by Harrison Phillips J15 coxed quad.

For Hexham Rowing Club, the 2x crew of Henry Welch and Sam Cardnell steered their way to victory of their J16 age category, gaining 5th fastest time out of 61 boats of the day.

Harry Westlake gave a strong performance in the J14 1X category, competing in a single for the first time and winning.

The quad crew of Rose Nicholson, Lilly Teague, Katie Raine, Daisy Denbury, coxed by Hester Lockey also won their WJ15 event, beating their opposition by 22 seconds.

And Hexham Rowing Club’s final win of the day was the women’s coxed quad, of Julie McGrane, Lizzy McGrane, Christine Venus, Ana Nicholson, coxed by Beverly Beatty.

The event was a time trial event over 1200m and restricted to one event entry for each rower during the day.