Southampton-based crews will form the Hants and Dorset's main drive for top honours at Dartmouth on Saturday when the champions and runners-up of the South Coast's three rowing associations meet.

The event will be made all the more exciting this year as rowers will be celebrating the 50th South Coast Championship Rowing Regatta.

In a full programme, which includes junior rowing in the morning, there will be a row past of veterans who raced in the first championships at Poole in 1956.

Crews from BTC, Itchen Imperial, Coalporters, Ryde, Southsea and Christchurch will once again seek to regain the top association trophy which was narrowly lost to the Coast Rowing Association last year at Bexhill. There the BTC Senior Four were rowed to a standstill by Herne Bay after leading in the Senior Championship race for all but the last 50 metres.

This year, BTC, who have represented the Hants and Dorset at senior level for 20 out of the past 22, are once again Hants and Dorset Champions and look capable of putting last year's disappointment behind them with a strengthened crew of Lewis Iddenden (bow), Dean Harrison (2), Matt Bailey (3), Simon Bailey (stroke) and Catherine Hume (cox). They will be supported by Ryde with Nick Pike (bow), Mark Jenner (2), Matt Allsopp (3) Ian Hayden (stroke) Penny Glazzard (cox) who are more than capable of springing a surprise.

The Junior/Senior Championship will see the newly-crowned Hants and Dorset Champions Itchen Imperial in the limelight for the first time.

Coming through from Juniors earlier in the season it will be interesting to see if Russell Benham (bow), Phill Spratt (2), Ross Marshell (3), Kevin Perry (stroke) and Tyler Foad (cox) can find the concentration and composure to be at their very best when the pressure is on.

Again it is Ryde with David Squibb (bow), Matt Evans (2), Adam Dracott (3), Sam Cocker (stroke), Penny Glazzard (cox) who are Hants and Dorset Championship runners-up, and with the experience gained in winning last season's Junior South Coast title, stroke Sam Cocker will be determined to get another medal around his neck.

Other crews: Junior Championship - Itchen Imperial: John Riceman (bow), Mark Wardell (2), Paul Joyce (3), Luke Williams (stroke), Kerry Wardell (cox).

BTC: Steve Maxwell (bow), Tony Taylor (2), Paul Taylor (3), Duncan Bradbury (stroke), Catherine Hume (Cox).

Ladies' Senior Championship - Coalporters: Maddie Dunn (bow), Antonia Maunder (2), Sil Wallach (3), Dee Lawrence (stroke), Marie Carey (cox).

Southsea: Sarah Dow (bow), Jane Conyers (2), Alex Seward (3), Kelly Simmons (stroke), tba (cox).

Ladies' Junior Championship - Southsea: Adrienne Corr (bow), Elene Antonakaki (2), Anna Vineycomb (3), Joanne Dubois (stroke), Emily Harrison (cox).

Christchurch: Kate Lockyer (bow), Emma Lack (2), Jules Lyons (3), Zenna Bonds (stroke), Matt Bailey (cox).

Veteran Championship - Lymington: Terry Woolford (bow), Ken Chalk (2), Alan Taylor (3), Tim Bull (stroke), Laura (cox).

Poole: Paul Drane (bow), Robert Frampton (2), Ray Wilson (3), Pete Jacobs (stroke), Lisa Frampton (cox).

The Veteran row past of crews and coxswains, who raced in the first Championship at Poole in 1956, is not intended to be competitive, although the composite Coalporters, Southampton andChristchurch four of Mike Green, Brent Hartland, Frank Quinton and David Smirk with Karen White as cox have had a few outings on the Itchen and still row regularly for their clubs.

The BTC/Harland & Wolff composite crew of Mike Collins, L Keith Weaver MBE, Dennis Woodford and Peter Wardell with Chloe Weaver (cox) have taken a more leisurely training approach.

They may not be able to race at speed but will be applauded for their effort and, more especially, for their lifetime of service to the sport.