A WOMEN’S rowing team from Hexham has tasted success in an against the odds victory.

The combined ladies’ eight from Hexham Rowing Club and Hexham Queen Elizabeth High School Rowing Club rowed to a thrilling triumph at the Rutherford Head Race on Saturday.

They beat five university crews to be crowned women’s novice eight champions at one of the last long-distance races of the year.

The Hexham crew was a composite crew, with five rowers from Hexham Rowing Club and three from Queen Elizabeth High School.

From bow to stern they were: Laura Furniss (QEHS), Gillian Orrell (HRC), Linsley Charlton (HRC), Andrea Burn (HRC), Shona Cassidy (HRC), ClaireLe Tissier (QEHS), Jane Upstill-Goddard (HRC) and Rosie Upstill-Goddard (QEHS).

Their cox was Neil Wilkinson, also of Hexham Rowing Club.

The idea of forming the crew had come only a few weeks earlier and, prior to race day, the crew had just one training session with everyone present.

Moreover, two members of the crew, Laura Furniss and Linsley Charlton, had only just learned to row and had never competed in a rowing race before, never mind a long-distance race.

The aim of the day was to get some race experience and enjoy the rowing.

No-one imagined a victory was possible.

Competition for Hexham came from Leeds, Edinburgh and Teesside universities and all the crews looked to be tough opposition.

When the results were announced, few could believe that this composite crew from Hexham had beaten five university crews.

Their winning time was 18 minutes and 52 seconds, some 23 seconds ahead of the next fastest women’s novice eight.

Holding their winners’ tankards in the back row from left are Hexham Rowing Club’s Linsley Charlton, Jane Upstill-Goddard, Andrea Burn, Shona Cassidy and Gillian Orrell. At the front are QEHS’s Claire Le Tissier, Rosie Upstill-Goddard and Laura Furniss.