2006 promises to be an exciting year for Evesham Rowing Club.

Building work is on target to finish next May -alterations that will provide the town with a top class sporting facility, including new gymnasium, weights room, boating facilities and new tennis courts.

Several of the club's juniors, meanwhile, are in the running for places in the Great Britain squad and are currently undergoing a heavy schedule of winter training.

Many of the juniors in training have come to the sport through the club's Project Oarsome scheme that takes rowing into the town's middle schools - St Egwin's and Simon de Montfort.

These talented youngsters may otherwise have been lost to the sport and Evesham Rowing Club is proud to have been able to offer them this opportunity.

Club members will be working off those extra Christmas calories at their annual Pudding Races from 11am next Tuesday.

Crews are drawn out of a hat to row in fours or quads from Workman Bridge to the club in Abbey Park.

Races are held side-by-side and slowest crews are knocked out - winners receive a pudding. There's also a prize for the wackiest hat!