MARLOW Rowing Club's men's crews made significant strides at the Men's Head of the River Race in London last Saturday with a top 50 finish for the club's first crew.

The second eight improved from a start number of 145 to finish 87th and the club's first boat moved up from 63rd to 49th out of over 400 competing crews.

The men's head is over a four mile course from Chiswick to Putney, the reverse of the classic Boat race course.

Just like the boat race this is the pinnacle of the winter season for all of the British club and University crews.

They are also joined by many of Europe's top clubs and college crews making this one of the most competitive and exciting events in the rowing calendar.

The Marlow first boat had an excellent race to place in the top 50, a mark of a top class club crew. Preparation has been better this year despite the difficult winter, which forced the Marlow crews to head to London for weekend training.

A new crop of experienced athletes has also arrived to strengthen the top end of the Marlow squad this season.

The Marlow boat, at 32 strokes per minute, set about catching Nottingham University which they did by Chiswick Eyotte.

As Marlow pushed past Nottingham the crews came together and Andy Grant, at seven, needed to keep his head as his blade slipped under the bows of the Nottingham boat.

Marlow kept their focus and driving on cleared the flagging Nottingham crew.

From Hammersmith Bridge, Marlow kept working down the last mile to the finish.

The crew were coxed by Kate Tucker with Mark Furlonger a former member of Agecrofts elite crew doing a fine job at stroke.

Andy Grant an ex-Oxford University squad member has brought a lot of experience to the seven seat and he was backed up by Marlow stalwart Richard Aplin at six.

Steve Power is another new recruit from Exeter rowing at five and he was backed up by Steve Flower, out of retirement this year. The bow three were Dave Rose, Jim Cotter and Mat Joyce another new recruit from Southampton.

The top 100 is usually seen as the mark for qualification for club crews aiming for the summer Henley Royal Regatta.

On this weekend's results all of Marlow's senior athletes will be looking forward to being in competitive Henley crews this summer.