THREE Junior rowers from Wimbleball Rowing Club took part in their first Head race, hosted by Dart Totnes ARC on the river Dart in Devon.

Head races are a time trial and are about endurance as well as speed with competitors of all ages taking part.

All have to row 3 km to get to the start, wait until its their turn to race and then race back 3km.

Being among the youngest competitors there, the three Wimbleball rowers had to boat and leave for the start first, wait longest and row back almost last, in each division.

Although the river conditions were excellent the weather was not, with frequent sharp downpours becoming increasingly torrential as the day progressed.

Siblings Charlotte and Tom Enright (J14 and J16 respectively), rowing for the first time as a double, with Charlotte in the unfamiliar stroke seat and Tom at bow, comfortably beat Castle Dore in the J16x2 in a time of 12.39, giving Tom his first win.

Becky Ansell(J14x1) tackled 3km in a single in the second division of the day coming in second and within 20 minutes had to boat for a race in the final division of the day – the WJ14x2 – a double with Charlotte Enright.

Tired, cold and wet at the start of this race, they were drenched when hail and torrential rain swept up the river as they raced back and were only narrowly beaten by home team Dart Totnes.

Wimbleball’s three competitors had each rowed a minimum of 12,00km in gruesome conditions and had done themselves and their club proud.

They hope to compete next at Exeter in December before taking part in Junior Inter Regional Rowing Trials at Dart Totnes ARC in January.