THERE was a poor entry in the senior fours category of the Southampton Head of the River Race.

But that did not deter Ryde who knocked 15 seconds off the 1986 course record to win in 16 minutes and eight seconds.

Looking powerful from the start Ryde, stroked by Nick Pike, kept up a relentless pace over the 3-mile course from Riverside Park to the finishing line just upstream of the Itchen Bridge.

They took full advantage of a following wind and a slightly running tide to beat Lymington, the only other senior entry.

Ryde also won the Junior Senior Section, beating Itchen Imperial by 16 seconds in a time of 17 minutes and one second.

Itchen, however, more than made up for this with wins at both Junior (17min and 16 sec) when they held off BTC A (17 min and 39 sec) and at Novice where they broke BTC's 1992 record of 18 min and one second to win in 17 min and 26 seconds.

Lymington were 13 seconds behind in a very encouraging 12-strong section which included a number of crews coming through from the youth schemes now run by many clubs.

A disappointing entry from Veteran crews saw BTC (17 min 22 sec) take the title with Southampton (18 min 27 sec) over a minute behind.

In the Ladies sections, entries were no better with just three Senior crews taking to the water.

Southsea (18 min 32 sec) gained the Pennant with a surprise victory over a Coalporters (18 min 44 sec) side who dominated Ladies' rowing last season.

And it was Southsea (19 min 13 secs.) again in the Ladies' Junior Four who took the title from BTC (19 min 25 sec) with Ryde (19 min 28 sec) third and Poole (19 min 43 sec) fourth.

That suggests some close finishes when the season gets under way at Ryde Regatta on May 13.

Only two crews competed in the Ladies' Novice section, with Westover (20 mins) winning from Itchen Imperial (20 min 20 secs.)

Small boats results

MS2: Itchen Imperial (18.13) Southampton (18.19), WJ2: Southampton (21.20)

MS1x: Coalporters (17.33) Ryde A (17.48)

MJ1x: Poole (19.50)

MN1x: Christchurch (18.49) Southampton (19.07)

WS1x: Southampton (20.22) Southampton (27.27)

WJ1x: Coalporters (21.47)

WN1x: Itchen Imperial (22.30) Coalporters (23.08)

MJ16x: Southampton (20.58) Coalporters (22.02)