Hexham men’s and women’s crews both rowed to victory over home teams at the Chester-le-Street Regatta.

They were crowned novice sculling champions just one month before Hexham hosts its own rowing regatta, on June 2

The first Hexham crew racing for trophies at Chester-le-Street were the veteran men – Stuart Mullan, Scott Pearson, Richard Currie and George Doody, Hexham Rowing Club captain.

They were coxed by Lucy Siddle, who had raced the course twice earlier that day, coxing the Hexham ladies’ four to victory in their quarter-final, followed by a narrow defeat in their semi-final.

The 1,000 metre course has a couple of tricky bends and the Hexham ladies’ blades had clashed with their opponents’ more than once as crews battled for dominance over the faster stream in the middle of the river.

The veteran men’s crew from Hexham had no problem with clashing blades because they drew away from their Chester-le-Street rivals right from the start and dominated the centre of the river.

By the time the Hexham men came into the view of their screaming supporters they were already three lengths clear of the opposition and they maintained their pace and control to row to a clear victory.

It was then the turn of the Hexham women’s novice sculling quad of Linsley Charlton, Shona McCreedy, Rachel Smith and Gillian Orrell, coxed by Gemma Mills, who at 13 is so light that additional weights are put in the boat to prevent the Hexham women having an unfair advantage.

Shona and Gillian were half of the Hexham ladies’ four that had just lost its semi-final and everyone was now hoping that the Hexham women scullers could match the success of the Hexham men in their own novice quad final.

The ladies had plenty of time to eye up the opposition as they waited at the start of the course because a delay had been caused by races running out of sequence.

“What’s your status?” came the shout from the bank as the umpire sought to clarify that this was the ladies’ novice quad final.

“Single!” was the cheeky reply from the Hexham ladies’ boat, proving that they weren’t going to let the wait fray their nerves.

At the cry of “GO!” the Hexham ladies emulated the Hexham men by pulling away from their Chester-le-Street rivals immediately.

Knowing that the Hexham men had won by such a clear margin, the Hexham ladies didn’t slow, even when they were three lengths’ clear in the closing 100 metres.

Hexham’s bank-side supporters roared their approval as the ladies pushed to victory.

So it seems that Hexham’s new club kit is having the desired effect.

The new kit has been designed and paid for by club members hopeful for further success in this season’s regattas and particularly at the Hexham Regatta.