ROWING: Marlow Regatta moves out of the town for the first time on Saturday (23/6) with new landlords Dorney Lake predicting a much brighter future for the historic event.

The regatta controversially quit its roots to safeguard its future as the world's best rowers demanded top international facilities. The new £17million International Rowing Lake at Dorney, near Eton, will now be its new home and officials are promising to turn it into Britain's best regatta, bar Henley.

Dorney project director Roderick Watson said: "We're convinced we can offer them a better regatta. The elite crews which were beginning to question whether it was worth going to Marlow will now come back."

Marlow's Regatta was sinking fast with its three lane course, notorious bend and choppy waters, putting off many international rowers who demanded a fairer course.

Organisers decided to move it to Eton College's brand new lake to keep it afloat and the early signs are good with entries being received from all over the world.

Top crews have pledged their support while the greatest of them all, Sir Steve Redgrave, will be there in a non-racing capacity.

The Grand Challenge Cup has ten entrants this year as opposed to none last year and all-in-all there will be 280 crews racing in almost 100 races, which begin at 9am tomorrow and go into the evening.

Organisers are now hoping that the public will follow.

When it was held in Marlow the event attracted 10,000 specatators while only around 2,000 are expected tomorrow.

Organisers admit that it will be a different, but still hope to recreate some of Marlow on Dorney Lake.

Bill Findlay, chairman of Marlow Regatta management committee said: "It's our intention to set-up a Marlow Regatta at Dorney and keep some of the atmosphere, except we won't be having a fair or fireworks display.

"We know leaving Marlow upset a lot of people and we did it very reluctantly, but it is what the event needed. It was dying at Marlow, if we hadn't moved the Metroploitan Regatta would have taken our date and all the top crews would have gone there instead.

"Marlow Regatta will go from strength to strength. Our intention is to improve both the name of the regatta and the town and I would hope that the people of the town move with their regatta."

Adam Clift, warden on the site and a Commonwealth gold medallist in 1984 said: "Probably 15 years ago, Marlow started to lose its status as a great regatta. When I rowed there to win the sculls and eights, Marlow was very prestigious. Nowadays people don't think that.

"I think this will resurrect it as one of the country's top regattas."

This year's regatta will be raced over a 1,400 metre course but next year's should be run over the full 2,000 metres.

Five car parks will be in operation tomorrow at £10 per car. There is no further charge for spectators who wish to watch the racing.

For those wishing to picnic right beside the course, there is a reserved car park where spaces can be pre-booked at £15 per car.