GRAVESEND Rowing Club had eight race entries in the Walton & Weybridge regatta on Saturday.

The ladies’ novice coxed four and men’s masters novice single sculler won their heats before each crew only lost their final by about three lengths.

Gravesend’s ladies had only been rowing as a crew for about six weeks and intend to continue to enter races throughout the Regatta season.

New club member Mike Smith has only been sculling for about 12 months and this was his first entry into a sculling race.

Crews were also entered into several other races.

These included two crews in the ladies’ intermediate three coxed fours, a composite crew with Medway Towns RC in the men’s intermediate three coxed fours, a men’s novice coxed fours and a junior 14 single scull.

The club finally saw success with Matthew Johnson winning intermediate three single sculling final by one and a half lengths against Staines BC in 3m20s.

Johnson was presented with an engraved tankard for his achievement afterwards.

Captain Stephen Cason, who coxed several races, was very pleased with the turnout for the club’s first regatta of the season and members are now preparing for the next race, which may be Kingston Regatta on July 10.

For more information on Gravesend RC, or to join, call 01474 352636.