UPTON Rowing Club entered some eleven crews in the Ross-on-Wye two-day regatta held over the bank holiday weekend.

There were mixed fortunes: on the Sunday the men's Veteran B coxed four crew beat Weybridge RC, but were then beaten in the final by Leicester RC. The men's Veteran C coxed four lost by one length to Nottingham Britannia RC. The Veteran D coxed four crew were also unfortunate to lose, having been narrowly beaten by the eventual winners. Upton Rowing Club also entered a mixed Veteran Novice coxed four and two mixed Veteran coxed fours, one crew being beaten by the eventual winners and the other by a crew containing an ex-Henley competitor.

The women's Veteran C/D crew of Pauline Mason, Sandy Barker, Carol Barkley and Penny Stephenson fared better, having a good win in a straight final over Hereford RC.

On the Monday Upton RC entered a women's Senior IV crew, a mixed eight crew, a men's Senior II coxed four and a women's Novice coxed four crew with no wins resulting unfortunately.

Whilst this was happening at Ross on the Monday, Upton RC was also participating in the Upton Water Festival, staging its own scratch races from the Castaway Club at the Swan Hotel.

There were six crews, names of each crew having been drawn at random. In the final the crew of Graham Rodway, Jonathon Soar, Angela Rodway and Sandy Barker, coxed by Karen Lanni beat the crew of Peter Barker, John Dean, Simon Barkley, Carol Barkley, coxed by Jeff Radnor.

Carol Barkley has also been training a crew, The Swan 'Oars', sponsored by Neil Culley of the Swan Hotel and comprising Pippa Barkley, Sally Burford, Roz Brickell and Marianne Abbot over the summer. They have only been out on the water six times, but put up a very good show against the crew of Andrea Oliver, Karen Lanni, Sue Clifford and Helen Barker.

With one more regatta to go (Worcester Veterans & Juniors on the 8th/9th September) the regatta season is nearly over and Upton Rowing Club will be in training for the winter Heads season in which longer distances are covered.