Head of the River - Saturday 29th March 2003
The annual Head of the River race took place on Saturday 29th March, with sunshine for the event and favourable conditions. The Oxford and Cambridge boatrace is rowed from Mortlake to Putney whereas this is rowed from Putney to Mortlake and on this occasion the four and a quarter mile race was rowed on an outgoing tide, with a headwind.
West of England clubs represented were Dart Totnes, Exeter and Exeter University. Launching from Barnes Bridge, the Dart Totnes eight of Terry Sandercock, Will Hawkyard, Phil Ireland, Steven Wilson, Kieran Hughes, Richard Carter, Rob Wilson and Ed Pettinger (Str.) were coxed by Owen Small to complete the processional race in a time of 19 minutes and 47 seconds - this put them in 242nd place overall. The crew had a good, comfortable row. Leander were indeed the winning crew in the time of 17 minutes and 4 seconds.
Entries numbered 420 and some 80 of these were from overseas.

Jessica Thompson, Publicity Officer, Dart Totnes ARC.