WHILE the weather has resulted in a lack of action of late, rowers from Queen Elizabeth High School still faced plenty of excitement at the weekend.

For a surprise was in store for the young members of the school’s rowing club when a new coxless quadruple sculling boat, complete with blades, was waiting on Tyne Green ready to be unwrapped.

The boat was purchased through three years of fund-raising by members.

Coach Pauline Higgins said “My husband Geoff and I told no-one that we had ordered a new boat and it has been a long wait since the order was submitted last September.

“The last new boat we bought was in 2017 as it takes time to save the £16,500 required.

“We standardise our boats on British-built Janousek/Stampfli racing boats in QE’s distinctive colour of signal yellow.

“We now have nearly 30 boats from this manufacturer and they have proved their build quality over many years with the oldest still used for racing a 1981 model.”