HUNDREDS of rowers and boat enthusiasts gathered on Teesside at the weekend to keep a 200-year tradition afloat.

About 1,500 people made the Tees Regatta a huge success on Saturday, despite the challenges posed by the construction of a footbridge over the Tees Barrage.

Due to the construction, the course for this year's races was reduced from four to three lanes, but the course ran the usual 850 metre upstream from the barrage to the Princess of Wales bridge, in Stockton.

Sarah Harker, a member of event organiser Tees Rowing Club, said there had been a regatta on the Tees since the late 1700s, and this year's event was a big success.

"It was absolutely fantastic, apart from the weather," she said.

"There was about 19 clubs, nearly 300 entries, taking part from the northern region, which goes up to Berwick and across to Carlisle."

The youngest competitor was 11-year-old Harriet Mace, from Teesside, who had to compete against the youngest boys, because there were no other girls of her age who were racing.

However, she still made it into the final.

The oldest competitors were in their 60s.

"It's a really good family day, with people of all ages,"

said Miss Harker.