THE first in the Grand Prix series of races took place last Sunday when the South of England Championships were held at Portsmouth's Mountbatten Centre.

Local rowers were out in force with some notable successes, especially the women!

World Champion Anna Bailey (Old Wrecks) had recovered sufficiently from a lower back strain to not only take gold in the Women's 50-59 class in 7.07.6, but also produce the overall fastest women's time of the day - setting a new Grand Prix record just one second outside her own world record time.

Evesham's Helen Barnett (OW) also went straight into the top spot in her first Grand Prix race in the women's 30-39 taking gold in 7.25.0.

The third gold medal of the day went to Worcester's Janet Parker (OW) who notched up a new personal best in the 50-59 lightweight class, her time of 8.05.9 taking her a step nearer to regaining the British record which she held until last December.

Michelle Parsons (OW) of Evesham took silver in the women's 30-39 lightweight in 7.27.6.

Silver also went to new Wrecks' recruit, John Brooks, in the men's 40-49 lightweight, in a time of 6.34.1 - a time only bettered by the current British record holder.

Duncan Paterson, another new boy, also achieved silver in the men's 30-39 lightweight class, clocking up 6.27.9.

The final new recruit to the Old Wrecks, Megan Brown, came second to Helen Barnett, producing a new pb by three seconds in 7.27.7.

The only bronze medal of the day went to Maria Scotland (OW), who set a time of 7:56.9 in the Women's 40-49.

Ted Taylor (OW) took sixth in the men's 50-59 lightweight in 7.14.0, while Worcester's Jim Parker came eighth in the same race in 7.18.9.

Tommy Gee (OW) was ninth in the men's 50-59 with 7:14.1. Tim Wright (OW) was 11th in the 30-39 race in a time of 6:30.1, Worcester's Richard Redfern was 17th in the same race (6.39.3) followed by Mark Yates (OW) in 21st place with 6.48.0.

The next major race will be the British Championships at Birmingham's National Indoor Arena on Sunday, November 17.