Dartmouth Amateur Rowing Club

  Celebrating 140 years of Success 

                      Est 1869

Head of The Dart

Sculler Barton leads Dart bid

THIS year's Head of the Dart produced the best conditions for a decade with flat water all the way, although a headwind did provide a little chop over the final 1,000m.

The race, staged over a nine-mile course from Totnes to Dartmouth, was organised by the Dart Totnes and Dartmouth clubs.

Both host clubs accounted for three of the top four finishers, but missed on the top spot.

The overall winners were a Poplar & Blackwall men's Senior C eight who finished the course in 48mins 8secs.

A Dart Totnes men's quadruple scull were second in 48:44, ahead of the club's men's veteran eight in 49:10 and a Dartmouth eight in 50:26.

Clubs from around the region and further afield provided 65 finishers, which included a variety of craft including boards, pilot gigs, a K4, sea boats, sculls, fours and eights.

The largest contingent was from River Thames rowing club Poplar & Blackwall, who provided eight entries.

Local pennant winners were Dart Totnes' Elliot Barton, who was the fastest single sculler finishing ninth overall in 53:36, and the winner of the men's Senior A single sculls category.

Peter Atkinson of Dart Totnes (11th in 55:42) won the men's Veteran E single sculls category, while Martin Burridge of Dart Totnes (14th in 57:28) took the men's Senior C single sculls.

Hugh Tubbs (15th in 57:36) won the men's Veteran F single sculls and the veteran single sculls handicap; Torquay's Mike Cresser and Rus Bammens (29th in 1:02:11) topped the sea boat pairs; and Sam Tilley of Dartmouth (35th in 1:03:21) led the ladies' Senior C single sculls group.

The pilot gig section was won by Appledore (44th in 1:07:09) with Dart (51st in 1:13:19) third.

Dart's Ladies (52nd in 1:14:43) were fourth and Paignton (55th in 1:17:51) came sixth.

The Dart Ladies' crew of Gail Woodgate, Clare Thorp, Jo Wallace, Jayne Patten, Sandra Dring, Beverley Worthington and cox Barry Woodgate were the first female gig crew to cross the line in Dart.

The men's crew rowed Dilly E and featured Andy Thomas, Dave Morralley, Carlos Minto, Chris Jay, Chris Wallace, Tony Rendle and cox John Whitlock.

The paddle boarders' section was won by John Hibbard from Bantham