THERE were surprises at Coalporters Regatta, led by the host club's R Smart, P Rogers, S Stubbs, J Caffrey (stroke) and Hillary Morris (cox) who broke BTC domination of the junior fours.

Ryde also pushed BTC's seniors to their limit in the twice-around-the-course final.

Coalporters' juniors, lifted by the atmosphere of their club-organised regatta at Northam Bridge, notched up their season's first championship point.

Coming from half a length down as they approached the turn, they spun their boat around the buoy to emerge with clear water between themselves and series leaders BTC and won by two and a half lengths.

There was more success for the home club in the senior and novice sculls, with Brian Ingle taking the senior point and Gary Seward gaining his second novice point to move up to junior status.

The race of the day had to be the senior fours, where the BTC crew was Mark Weaver, Paul Lindley, Matt Bailey, Simon Bailey (stroke) and Sarah Wardell (cox).

Ryde matched them stroke for stroke twice around the course with never more than three-quarters of a length between the two crews in the best senior final for years.

BTC's junior-senior four won and their veteran four of Colin Brockman, Cliff Skinner, Dave Wyatt, Steve Wardell (stroke) and Lewis Gardner (cox) brought Southampton's winning run to a halt with a half-length success.

The surprise of the day was BTC's win in the ladies' junior fours.

With their championship-leading A crew absent, Christchurch were favourites, but the BTC B team of Jackie Hicks, Emily Kendrick, Diane Ronald, Rhiannan Skinner (stroke) and Catherine Hume (cox) came from behind going into the turn to win by three-quarters of a length.

Southampton novice ladies Alison Walsh, Hillary Morris, Joe Laidler, Alison Jones (stroke) and Richard Newman (cox) gained their second win of the season to promote them to junior status.

Southampton took the point with another win in the senior ladies pairs with Lisa McGregor-Richie and Chrisie Potter rowing well.

RESULTS:

Men

Senior fours: 1 BTC A, 2 Ryde A, 3 Coalporters A.

Veteran fours: 1 BTC B, 2 Southampton A, 3 Southampton B.

Junior-senior fours: 1 BTC A, 2 Ryde, 3 Westover.

Junior fours: 1 Coalporters A, 2 BTC A, 3 Christchurch A.

Novice fours: 1 Ryde, 2 Southsea, 3 Christchurch.

Senior pairs:1 Lymington B, 2 Coalporters, 3 Southampton A.

Junior pairs: 1 Ryde B, 2 Christchurch, 3 BTC.

Senior sculls: 1 Coalporters (Ingle), 2 Westover (O'Brien), 3 Southsea (Tout)

Junior sculls: 1 Ryde (Jenner), 2 Ryde (Maitland).

Novice sculls: 1 Coalporters (Seward), 2 Westover (Cure), 3 Coalporters (Mace).

Invitation J16 quad fours: 1 Coalporters, Danny Tredigo, Lee Bridle, Richard Newman, Evan Lewis (stroke), Becky Henderson (cox).

Invitation J16 double sculls: 1 Itchen Imperial, James Foad, Tom Noyce (stroke).

Invitation J16 sculls: 1 Ryde (Ben Churchill).

Ladies

Senior fours: 1 Southampton, 2 BTC.

Junior fours: 1 BTC B, 2 Christchurch A, 3 Christchurch B.

Novice fours: 1 Southampton, 2 Coalporters, 3 Ryde.

Senior pairs: 1 Southampton, 2 Itchen Imperial.

Senior sculls: 1 Christchurch ( Bagnell), 2 BTC (Hume).

Junior sculls: 1 Christchurch (Cresswell), 2 Coalporters (Glazzard).

Invitation J16 double sculls: 1 Coalporters Stacey Blackshaw, Amy Stapleton (stroke).

Invitation J16 sculls: 1 Coalporters (Jesica Hayes).