Rowing speed trials on the River Nene at Whittlesey

HUNDREDS of boats took to the River Nene at the weekend as student rowers from across the country converged on Fenland.

Rowing speed trials on the River Nene at Whittlesey

More than 1,500 competitors from 50 universities gathered at North Bank, Whittlesey, for the BUCS PwC Rowing 4s and 8s Head 2012.

The time trial event, which received a record number of entries, began on Saturday with hundreds of rowing newcomers taking to the water.

The championship crews were in action on Sunday as leading stars from Newcastle, Durham and Bristol battled it out.

James Lee, from British Rowing, said: “It’s a good stretch of water and this is the third time we have been there. The Nene is ideal for that sort of racing.

Rowing speed trials on the River Nene at Whittlesey

“It’s such a big event and it does tend to take over the area for a weekend.

“All the hotels get booked because students are coming from as far away as Dundee and Edinburgh.”