WIMBLEBALL rowers rounded off a summer of success with some stunning performances at the South Coast Championships, coming away with two major wins.

The championships were the culmination of the season’s regattas and involved competitors from the three southernmost regions - Coast ARA, Hants and Dorset ARA and WEARA – the West of England Amateur Rowing Association – with entries open to any of the 43 clubs from Herne Bay in North Kent to Falmouth in Cornwall.

This year the event was hosted by Wimbleball Rowing Club and more than 500 rowers competed over two days, Saturday and Sunday September 12 and 13.

The weekend began on the Friday with a reception hosted by event organisers and WEARA presidents Stephen and Andrea Worley and attended by guests from all three competing regions.

Saturday saw the seniors in action, racing a 2000-metre course from the dam, and there were numerous close-fought races.

Sunday saw the juniors in action in the tenth South Coast Under 16 Rowing Regatta, and Wimbleball Rowing Club were again represented by the three young rowers who have done so well this season.

Racing was over a 1000-metre course starting from the opposite end of the lake near the bridge, enabled spectators to enjoy good views of each race.

Ten crews competed in the heats for the J16 single sculls, and Tom Enright competed against crews from Christchurch, Itchen Imperial and Southampton Coalporters to reach the final, which was a hard fought and exciting race eventually won by Itchen.

Both Becky Ansell and Charlotte Enright got through their heats against crews from BTC, Southampton, Plymouth, Dartmouth and Christchurch to reach the final of the J14 single sculls, which was won emphatically by Charlotte for the home club.

An hour later they were on the water again to compete in the J14 double sculls.

With Becky at stroke and Charlotte in the bow seat, the girls stayed level with Itchen until 500m, and with the other WEARA crews pushing them hard and Dartmouth snapping at their heels, they held the opposition to the 750m mark then they upped their rate to stormed home to a comfortable one-length win.

Saturday night saw the presentation of trophies to the seniors by the deputy chairman of British Rowing, Gary Harris, followed by a disco and hog roast.

And Sunday’s presentations to the juniors were made by Stephen and Andrea Worley.