This Sunday’s annual Adur Head race heralded some great results for Shoreham rowers. Despite tricky conditions –  a particularly vicious easterly head wind making life difficult for all involved – Shoreham showed their potential at the first race of 2013.

The first division saw several Shoreham fours take to the water. A few altercations at the start (involving a fast-flowing tide, other fours and a bridge) were soon forgotten once racing got underway.  Shoreham’s two Junior Ladies fours had mixed fortunes, one suffering an unfortunate equipment failure, the other of Rachel, Becca, Imogen & Becky rowed beautifully to win their category. The Senior Ladies race was always going to be a close battle between Shoreham and rivals Bexhill, who chased them down the river. Both crews dug deep but it was Shoreham who won by just 7 seconds. Well done girls.

In the men’s events both the Junior four and Veteran four rowed well to finish second, in times significantly quicker than the next boats in their categories. A great start to this season’s fours competitions

In the second division the wind-against-tide meant conditions down the Emerald Quay were decidedly choppy when the novices and small boats came to battle through. Big respect to Mal and James, who braved the distance in river sculls. For James a broken seat meant the latter part of the race was never going to go his way, not helped by Shoreham’s Mens’ river pair of Tim & Ollie promptly crashing into him.

The windy conditions made steering a challenge for the pairs but left the Shoreham Senior Ladies Pair of Sally & Sarah B undaunted as they rowed to win their category. For the Men’s Junior Pair an interesting race (mostly in the way of the Senior Ladies) ended in a tremendous victory (we shouldn’t mention they weren’t actually racing anyone).

It was a great day for Shoreham’s novice crews as well. The Novice Ladies of Charlotte, Charlotte, Rocky & Harriet had a fantastic row to come second to Southsea in their first ever competitive event having only finished their Learn to Row course a few months ago. Two Novice Men’s crews took to the water, again both rowing well in what was for most, their first ever race.

Many thanks once again to everyone who organised the event, manned start boats, marshalled along the course and ran the bar.