THE River Wye provides the setting for the start of rowing's time-trial season with the annual Monmouth Autumn Head race this Sunday (25th September).

A bumper entry of 192 boats from 15 clubs will be launching out to race over 2,200m from Hadnock Cottages to Monmouth RC, including two boats from Dutch club Alkmaar.

Racing is against the clock in three divisions, starting at 10.30am, 1pm and 3.30pm.

Monmouth School, Monmouth Comprehensive and Haberdashers all have large fleets in action, while former Wales Home Countries champions Huw Richards and James Wragg-Smith will be in action for Old Monmothians in a double scull.

The Monmouthshire Building Sociey-sponsored host club also have several entries and will be looking to blow off steam after all their training for last week's 31-mile Boston Marathon came to naught, with the event called off because of weed on the Lincoln to Boston course.

Other clubs in action include City of Swansea, Cardiff City, Llandaff, Hereford, Ross and a big contingent from King's School Worcester.

Meanwhile, Monmouth rowers also took to the sea to race in 'whalers' at Penarth Regatta, returning with two trophies.

Jonathan Ferris, Adrian Tulley, John Nicholls and Peter Scott took the veteran quadruple sculls event in a close final by half a length from City of Swansea.

And Kathryn Lewis, Grace Thomas, Sam Kerr and Bowen Stewart-Woods coxed by Tom Penny won the junior mixed quads by a length from Hereford and Penarth.