IN A near miraculous window of good weather between storms over the weekend, Dart-Totnes Rowing Club sent a small contingent of experienced members to the Veteran Fours' Head of the River Race on the River Thames.

One Totnes crew performed well across the four-and-a-half mile course from Mortlake to Putney, coming 21st overall out of the 161 finishers in a time of 20mins 19secs.

It would have been faster but bowman Mick Rolley steered onto one of the red buoys on the bend before Hammersmith Bridge.

The rest of the crew included Alan Langmaid, Ed Burnett and Andy Taylor from Bradford on Avon.

The collision with the buoy stopped them dead while Mick recovered his blade but probably had little effect on the overall result, just the time.

They came fifth out of 11 in the Veteran D coxless quad category.

The other Veteran D quad scratched because they had expected foul weather. In the event, the conditions were perfect and the best seen on the Tideway in recent years.

It was sunny and warm with calm flat water. A fast tide and a lot of land water contributed to some really good times and some records being broken.

Hugh Tubbs and John Harris of Dart Totnes competed in a Veteran F composite quad with Bristol City and Abingdon, coming 28th overall in a time of 20mins 36secs, winning their category out of six entries.

The previous day the 55th Fullers' Head of the River Fours Race had been a casualty of the weather.

With the southerly wind, conditions below Hammersmith were particularly bad and as the safety and security of competitors is of the highest priority, the race organisers were left with no option but to abandon the race.

It meant disappointment for the two Dart Totnes crews entered, a Men's Intermediate One quad and a Ladies' Intermediate Two coxed four.

● BRITISH Rowing welcomed the results from the Government's PE and Sport Survey that shows 40 per cent of secondary schools in England offer rowing as an activity.

British Rowing introduced Project Oarsome ten years ago with aim of opening the sport to a wider range of young people in 100 state schools.

Now, around 2,000 secondary schools offer the sport, with many linked to a Clubmark club.

GB Rowing's technical coordinator Rosie Mayglothling said: "It is fantastic to see that all of the hard work by clubs, coaches and supporting organisations continues to have a major impact.

"Rowing is a great activity for secondary age young people, our participant pathway emphasises that a generic multi-skills PE programme for primary aged children is the best preparation for sports specific participation at 11+, and will provide an excellent foundation for long-term health."