SOUTHAMPTON Rowing Club's decision to include small boats in their Head of the River Race on the River Itchen paid off.

Seventy-four crews lined up in the two-division race.

But competitors in the main Championship Fours classes were few.

In Division 1, Ryde's men's senior four were first away, followed by Lymington, building their rate as they passed the timekeeper. But Christchurch, already in full flow as they came to the timing line, looked the more determined of the five crews entered - and so it proved in a dramatic finish as Christchurch pipped Ryde by one tenth of a second - in 17.46.8min.

With just one junior-senior and one junior crew entered, the prospects for the coming season look bleak in the middle order.

But the ten men's novice fours gave some hope for the future.

With Southsea and Southampton having looked sharp this year already, it was a surprise to see Itchen Imperial (19.07.02) winning by six-tenths of a second from Southsea with Southampton third (19.28.03). Christchurch (17.50.9) won the veteran section from BTC (18.09.4).

Becky Cresswell (22.49.1) scored a win over Kaye Hume of BTC (23.29.8) in the ladies' senior sculls but McGregor-Ritchie, Southampton's sculler, put in the faster time of 22.42.5 in the ladies' novice section.

In Division 2, Coalporters A and B dominated the ladies' senior four section in times of 19.14.8 and 19.46.3. They were also clear winners in the ladies' junior fours (20.42.9) from Poole A (21.20.2).

Itchen Imperial (21.58.1) held off an all-Southsea challenge in the four-crew ladies' novice section with Southsea A (22.15.9) second.

Christchurch (18.54.7) triumphed in the men's senior pairs, with Sam Vye and Mike Kelly beating Coalporters (19.25.7) into second place.

Coalporters (19.54.7) won the men's junior pairs.

Ryde's Nick Pike (18.43.5) took the men's senior sculls from Bournemouth's Garry Cure (18.50.4). BTC's Matt Bailey (19.38.7) started his new career as a sculler by beating Hammond of Christchurch (19.41.7) in the men's novice sculls.

Southampton's rowing world is mourning the death of Ron Stone. He was 89.

The stalwart of the BTC Rowing Club for most of his life will be fondly remembered by many of the older members of all the Southampton clubs for his dedication to the sport.

Long-term chairman of the City of Southampton Rowing Association, he was always keen to represent the city's clubs at meetings with the council to promote the sport at every opportunity.

He also took a keen interest in bowls, which he shared with his wife Emm. They both became members of the Atherley BC.

His desire to organise drove him to become a qualified bowling umpire, and he officiated at both local and county level before failing health forced his retirement.