ROWING: Appications flood in for Wallingford Regatta

4:13pm Thursday 10th April 2008

Organisers of the Wallingford Regatta to be held on May 4, are delighted at receiving 500 entries within the first week after applications opened, writes Mike Rosewell Rachael Haycock, the regatta's entries' secretary admits to being amazed at the support for the event, now held on the multi-lane Dorney course.

Some events were already looking pretty full, notably the senior 4 eights.

Clubs like Molesey, with 40 entries, and London, (20) entries, are showing their keenness, as are Osiris, the Oxford University women's squad, and the Oxford men's lightweights.

The only undersubscribed events are those for the higher category women's classes.

Clubs are clearly eager for side-by-side racing since the main Head season finished, although two more local events, the Abingdon Head on April 20 and the Oxford City Bumping Races, will precede the Wallingford spectacular.

After that, the scenario hots up towards the recognised 'big ones' for local clubs.

These are the Oxford Summer Eights (May 21-24) ,the National Schools Regatta (May 23-25), Women's Henley (June 20-21), Henley Royal Regatta (July 2-6)J and the National Championships (July 18-20).

Locals are also likely to be found at Thames Ditton (May 17), Metropolitan (June 1), Reading Amateur (June 14-15) and Marlow (June 21-22).

By then, of course, the international season will have started, and, although clearly nothing has been announced, there are local rowers, who are expected to be in the build-up to the Olympics.

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