BEWDLEY RC showed strength in numbers at the Head of the River Race, which was held over the reverse boat race course on the River Thames on Saturday.

For the first time in three years the club fielded three eight-man crews in the senior two, three and novice categories.

The time-trial event welcomed eight-man crews from the country's best clubs to compete over the 4.25 mile course.

Last year the tournament was cancelled because of treacherous conditions but with perfect weather the 2008 event went without a hitch.

The novice boat, comprising of Jack Barker, Jon Brookes, Steve Price, Toby Wiesand, Jeff Neilson, Duncan Pratchett, Dan Leedham-Green, Scott Mitchell and coxed by Lorna Pritchard - all of whom started rowing only last year at the club's pub and club event - were very impressive and finished sixth in their section.

Club member Alex Holden-Smith was part of the Oxford Brookes University crew which finished seventh overall and were awarded the Halliday Trophy, while Simon Barbour, racing with a Reading University crew, finished 24th.

Bewdley's women completed the same course two weeks earlier.

They came 75th out of the 236 boats competing on the day and narrowly missed out to the higher status crew of local rivals Stratford.

The club will focus on the shorter knockout regatta and preparations for the pub and club event, which will be held at the beginning of Bewdley Carnival week on Saturday, May 31.