Tideway Scullers School

The veteran/masters groups rounded off their head-racing season with three pennants at the Vesta International Veterans' Head.

(c) Iain Weir Rowing Photography

The top TSS crew was the Veteran Men's boat of Hugh Williams, Roger Swift, Graham Bagnall, Tim Sanders, Chris Williams, Francis Pinkerton, Dickie Clarke and Dickie Bannenberg, coxed by Guy Greaves, which was 36th overall and won the F pennant, on which Dickie Clarke simply commented, 'We had a very good row and got the job done.'

Photo courtesy of A. CookeFollowing on from their success at Kingston last week, the TSS/Norwich/Army/Minerva Bath/Henley/Kingston crew (left) which included Rob Pinckney and Chris Harris raced in Masters G despite being H on age, winning the pennant and finishing 80th overall. They were also awarded a prize for the fastest men's crew on adjusted time. Chris said, 'It was nice to win our category without having to rely on hadicap. Only two of the crew had never been TSS members at some point, one of whom was our six-man Klaus Riekemann, who won a gold medal at the Rome Olympics in 1960 then went into retirement. He came back to rowing last year, and the race was his first row over the championship course.'

Chris also noted a 'fantastic result for the women's novice crew. They looked very good when they went past us and thoroughly deserved it.' Cox Vicky Sixsmith steered Jo Al-Janabi, Helen Kilsby, Catherine Nunan, Frances Barton, Anne Deering, Zoe Burns, Liz Tofts and Mary Mortimer to the pennant, and a very creditable 201st overall. Liz Tofts reports that 'the weekday ladies' novice D eight are a happy bunch. We won our category by a comfortable margin, despite racing B and C crews. We also beat a few men's eights for good measure! Thanks go to our coaches Elaine and Jack.'

The Great Ache, in Masters D, finished 139th overall, and Rosemary Thom's TSS/Walbrook/Weybridge women's D boat was 182nd.

Many thanks to Iain Weir for the photograph of the Vet F crew. Race photos can be purchased from his Rowing Photography website.