WINDERMERE Rowing Club sent three crews to the Head of the Mersey Race last weekend.

Teams compete over two legs of 1800m at the race, hosted by Warrington Rowing Club.

The racing was completed on a very cold blustery day with hail, snow, rain and a very strong river current.

Despite the challenges, Windermere ladies’ coxed quad sculls achieved the fastest time in the women's novice quads class.

Windermere's men quad, who had hardly had chance to practice, and a scratch ladies double using a vintage boat, rowed hard and enjoyed the day.

This was a significant achievement as Windermere RC is the smallest rowing club in the north west with 70 members, and was only set up in 2015. The club is trying to build racing squads alongside its enthusiasm to bring new rowers into this fantastic sport.

It offers a number of 'Learn to Row' courses through Eventbrite; check soon as places are filling up rapidly.

New, or prospective members, will find a warm welcome and in March the club hopes to move into the new National Trust ‘ActiveBase’ being built at Fell Foot, near Newby Bridge.