River Asher regatta draws 600 rowers in its 120th year

The River Asher Regatta celebrated its 120th year at the weekend with the largest entry in its history. Around 600 rowers from 41 clubs raced on the 1,000-metre course between Millbrook weir and the Asher Road bridge, with the riverbanks busy on both days despite a cold wind blowing down the valley.

Organisers had extended the programme to two days for the first time, adding junior and masters events on Saturday so that the open categories could have the river to themselves on Sunday. More than 230 races were completed, a figure that regatta secretary Hugh Penrose described as "a small miracle" given the strength of the headwind on the opening morning.

Home crews to the fore

Asher Rowing Club, the host club, won the open men's eight by a canvas from a crew from Ostbridge after the two boats were level for most of the course. In the women's quadruple sculls, a crew from Wrenhaven University Boat Club set a course record of three minutes 21 seconds, nearly four seconds inside the previous best, set in 2009.

The regatta started with six boats and a picnic. To see the banks this full after 120 years is something our founders could never have imagined.

Mr Penrose said the regatta still depended almost entirely on volunteers. About 150 people helped with umpiring, timing, launching and safety boats, and the club's catering team served what it estimated to be 4,000 cups of tea. Entry fees go towards maintaining the course buoys and the club's boathouse, which flooded twice last winter.

Among the oldest competitors was 79-year-old Margery Fulton, who rowed in a mixed masters double with her grandson. She first raced at the regatta in 1964. "The boats are lighter and the oars are a different shape, but the river is the same and so are the nerves," she said after the pair finished second in their heat.

The club is now raising money to replace its oldest training boats and hopes to start a free learn-to-row programme for secondary school pupils in the spring. Next year's regatta will take place on the same weekend in October.