MONMOUTH Rowing Club launched out on the River Avon at the recent Evesham Regatta and Sprint.

Known for its tricky navigation, it is a true test of a steerer's nerves, with the Saturday 1000m course featuring two massive bends.

The first day's highlight was the Women’s Masters over-50 singles final between Jane Hall and Sue Smith, with the former holding on for a narrow victory.

The Masters E (over-55) quadruple sculls showed grit to battle through several rounds to face Nottingham in the final, where in a dramatic turn, the Trent crew clashed blades at the 300m mark and were subsequently disqualified, marking a first-ever win for Pete Smith, Luke Sanger and Geoff Hitt, who shared the victory with Alex Mitchell.

In Sunday's shorter 500m sprint, the Masters F (over-60) quad of Colin Craknell, Phil Tilley, Andy Davies and Mike Smith took to the water and secured a brilliant victory against Warwick in the final.

Club members also headed to Nottingham Regatta at the National Water Sports Centre, where a biting wind whipped the water into a choppy mess and survival was the name of the game.

Mark Woods, Tim Earnshaw, former Cambridge Boat Race Blue Roger Stephens and Matthew Harden reprised their Masters Head of the River over-65 race win in March by coming home 3/4L ahead of Chester outfit Grosvenor in 3.49.9.

Sue Smith placed second in over-50 singles behind a Newark sculler, pipping a Champion of the Thames racer by a length, with the latter club taking its name from a nearby Cambridge pub named after a mid-1800s sculling champion who won a big title in London.

Club mate Bonita Birkett was just pipped to third by 1/2L by a Poplar sculler in her over-55 singles, while Helen Kearsey and Frances Lester were second in over-70 doubles and Liz Lewis and Sue Smith third in over-55 pairs.