ROWING may still have an elitist image in some people's eyes but in the North-East it is a growing sport, popular with all walks of life.

Durham City has a long rowing tradition and its annual regatta pre-dates the more well-known event at Henley.

Over the weekend, the River Wear attracted 275 crews, from children to pensioners, who took part in the 68 events that made up Durham Amateur Rowing Club's own regatta.

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, assistant secretary of the rowing club 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."

One of the rowing club's 200 members, Harry Scarr, 16, from the former pit village of 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 6ft 7in student was sent for trials with the English junior squad in February.

He said: "Rowing is looked upon as being a rich man's sport but Head Start gives people from a colliery background the chance to get involved. I said I would give it a year and so far I've really enjoyed it. It is a challenge and you meet different people."

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

People interested in getting into rowing can find out more about it from Durham Amateur Rowing Club, on 0191-386 6431.