WITH an average age of barely 17, the Coalporters crew pulled off an amazing victory in the South Coast Championship junior ladies final.

Jesse Hayes, who stroked her crew to victory at Bideford, was only 15!

But the girls still managed to win the Dartington Crystal Vase by two lengths.

It concluded a fabulous season in which Rebecca Henderson, 17, Antonia Maunders, 19, Kate Hadfield, 16, Hayes (stroke) and Penny Glazzard (cox and coach) progressed from novice to Hants and Dorset champions and now South Coast ladies junior champions - in just five months.

The Coalporters girls rowed with unexpected maturity when they could easily have lost their nerve.

A good start saw them one and a half lengths clear but they were passed by Hants and Dorset Championship runners-up Southsea and third-placed Folkstone also closed them down to within a length racing under the Torridge New Bridge.

Steadying words from Glazzard held them together, and a well-timed effort pushed them back in front as they passed the 1,000-metre mark.

The Coalporters youngsters were now in full flight and held off a final attack from the Southsea ladies at the 200-metre mark. They crossed the line two lengths ahead of Southsea and four in front of a very tired Folkstone.

It wasn't such a success story for Hants and Dorset men's senior champs BTC. Simon Collis, David Larkin, Matt Bailey, Simon Bailey (stroke) and Sarah Wardell (cox) failed by a foot in their bid to retain the South Coast Senior Championship Bideford Bowl.

After leading from well before the halfway mark in one of the most closely-contested finals in the history of the event, the BTC crew had looked composed.

Although never more than three-quarters of a length up on the chasing pack, which included Deal and Ryde, with Shoreham having been dropped by one and a half lengths in the first 500m, BTC seemed well in control of the race.

But, with 100 metres to go, Shoreham's Chris Smith, Mike Barnett, Paul Mercer, Gus Gumbrell (stroke) and Max Hunt (cox) burst back on the inside to throw their boat over the line.

Coalporters' senior ladies shared BTC's disappointment when they were beaten into third place, three lengths behind winners Exeter, who triumphed by a foot from Dart-Totnes.

The day hadn't started well for Hants and Dorset crews as both BTC and Southsea failed to come to terms with the difficult conditions in the veteran championship at the start of the regatta.

Crews had to go ashore to empty their boats before the start of the men's junior championship race. But, when racing did get underway 90 minutes later, Westover and Bournemouth moved past Christchurch, Dover and Bexhill to take the lead 200 metres from home and win by three lengths.

All ended well for Christchurch - though in near darkness - when their junior-senior four won the last championship of the day, yet another single-foot verdict over Deal. That retained the aggregate shield for Hants and Dorset as the most successful association for the sixth consecutive year.

RESULTS:

CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS

Men's senior fours: 1 Shoreham, 2 BTC (Southampton), 3 Ryde.

Men's junior senior fours: 1 Christchurch, 2 Deal, 3 BTC (Southampton)

Men's junior fours: 1 Westover & Bournemouth, 2 Christchurch, 3 Bexhill.

Veteran fours: 1 Folkstone, 2 Bideford (Blues), 3 Bexhill.

Ladies' senior fours: 1 Exeter, 2 Dart-Totnes, 3 Coalporters (Southampton).

Ladies' junior fours: 1 Coalporters (Southampton), 2 Southsea, 3 Folkstone.

OPEN EVENTS

Men's senior fours: 1 Bexhill, 2 Ryde, 3 Dartmouth.

Men's junior-senior fours: 1 Ryde, 2 Herne Bay, Poole.

Men's junior fours: 1 Herne Bay, 2 Itchen Imperial, 3 Grenville College.

Men's novice fours: 1 Bideford (Reds), 2 Itchen Imperial, 3 Shoreham.

Veteran fours: 1 Christchurch, 2 Folkstone, 3 Shoreham.

Ladies senior fours: 1 Bideford (Reds), 2 Christchurch, 3 BTC (Southampton).

Ladies' junior fours: 1 Christchurch, 2 Poole, 3 Grenville College.

Ladies' novice fours: 1 Lymington, 2 Hastings, 3 Coalporters (Southampton).