A disappointing turnout of Hants and Dorset crews couldn't take the edge off Itchen Imperial's first Senior Pennant win in the Southampton 'Head of the River Race' on the River Itchen.

Starting back in nineth position in a field of only 39, following the Southampton Organising Committee's inexplicable decision to redraw the starting order for all but last year's winning crews, instead of clubs starting in the traditional 2002 finishing order, the Itchen Imperial Four (Steve Taylor, Julian Hendrickx, Chris Foad, Matthew Joyce (stk) with cox Tom Foad) triumphed.

With last year's winners Ryde looking strong in number one position and already successful at the Stour 'Head of the River Race' at Christchurch and, with last season's Senior Hants and Dorset champs Lymington and runners up BTC baulked by their respective 'B' crews due to the redraw, it looked that Ryde could again pull off the double.

But, with the wind gusting from the North East, blowing the unwarey coxswains off coarse coming down the long Northam straight, positions changed, with both Lymington and BTC passing their 'B' crews to close the gap on Ryde.

With Itchen Imperial in full flow, they won by just two seconds (17.23) from Lymington (17.25) and BTC A (17.26), with Ryde (17.37) fourth

More success for Itchen Imperial came with Geoff Wardell, a late replacement for Mark Chamberlyne, helping Peter White, Marcus Bletchly, Ross Marshall (stk) and Kerry Wardell (cox) to move up a status and win the Junior Senior title (18.36) with Ryde (18.42) second.

The Coalporters Club, rowing with black arm bands in memory of former Chairman Bernie Sawyer, won the Junior Cup (18.00) from BTC (19.19).

Shareham looked a very youthful Veteran Crew as they matched the winning Senior time on handicap to set a new Veteran handicap record (17.23) with Dart Totnes (18.56) second.

Division Two racing saw Southampton's Senior Ladies (19.06) team of Lisa McGregor-Ritchie, Dee Lawrence, A Beastall, Chrisie Potter (stk) and Sarah Vincent (cox) win from Poole Ladies (19.53) and BTC Junior Ladies (20.23).

Joy Hackwood, Kath Hyde, Rachel Downes, Claire Evans (stk) and Sarah Wardell (cox) had nearly a minute to spare ahead of Christchurch (21.16).

Southampton (22.47) won the Ladies Novice Fours (Alison Jones, Liz Hunter, Joe Laidler, Alison Walsh(stk) and cox Richard Newman) from BTC (24.47) and Ryde(26.44).

The Mens Novice Fours saw Christchurch (19.23) with James Devall coming in at stroke, with Samual Vye, Daniel Batchelor, Mike Ryan and Mitchell Chilcott (cox) maintaining their winning run from BTC (19.50).