A SUMMER of major rowing competitions got under way on the River Wear in Durham last weekend.

The city has a long rowing tradition and its annual regatta, coming up in June, is the country's second oldest, pre-dating the more well-known event at Henley.

This weekend the focus will be on the River Tyne for the annual race between Newcastle and Durham universities.

But last Saturday and Sunday the River Wear attracted 275 crews for Durham Amateur Rowing Club's own annual regatta, which dates from 1971.

Competitors from school children to pensioners took part in the 68 events.

As well as Durham University's colleges, there were teams from schools and clubs, some from as far afield as Edinburgh and Hull.

They competed over a 750-metre stretch of water between the racecourse and Baths Bridge.

"Rowing has been growing, particularly since Steve Redgrave got the fifth gold at the Olympics in 2000,'' said club chairman Don White.

"There were hundreds of Durham students who got interested in it after that.

"Rowing is for everybody. It uses up the most energy of any sport and the training is very arduous as well.''

Megan Hogan, the 200-member club's assistant secretary and regional divisional representative for the Amateur Rowing Association, said: "It is a good sport. It teaches you to work together as a team and you meet people from all walks of life. You have the whole social aspect that goes with it as well.''

Club member Harry Scarr, 16, from Easington Colliery, is a newcomer to the sport. He was introduced to it under a drive by the Amateur Rowing Association, called Head Start, to find the talent and the medal-winners of the future.

The teenager, who is at college and is 6ft 7ins tall, started taking part in competitions in February and went for trials with the English junior squad, although he was unsuccessful.

"I said I would give it a year and so far I have rally enjoyed it. It is a challenge and you meet different people.''

To find out more about Durham Amateur Rowing Club call (0191) 3866431 or log on to the web site at www.durham-arc.org.uk