AN encouraging performance from Isle of Ely crews saw them notch up some impressive times across the board at the Cambridge Winter League head race. Held on the River Cam, the event draws teams from across the county including several from the Isle of Ely

AN encouraging performance from Isle of Ely crews saw them notch up some impressive times across the board at the Cambridge Winter League head race.

Held on the River Cam, the event draws teams from across the county including several from the Isle of Ely, who impressed with a number of vastly improved performances.

Sixteen Isle of Ely Rowing Club crews were in action and despite the freezing cold and even a snow blizzard at one point, every one of the sixteen Ely crews recorded faster times when compared with the first leg of the same race in January.

The Isle of Ely Rowing Club has a strong junior section and again fielded no fewer than three women's junior quad crews. The Women's Junior 15 crew were one minute and 17 seconds faster than in last month's race.

'determination'

The Women's Junior 14 crew of Libby Milne, Phoebe Bradbury, Laura Sibson and Nell Freeman had all raced in earlier divisions in other Ely crews prior to their WJ14 quad race, proving their determination to build fitness levels in the run-up to the Eastern Regional Trials at Norwich next weekend.

Two of the club's other women's junior 14 members Kate Every (stroke) and Lydia Sandercock (bow) were racing together in a double and improved their time by one minute and 29 seconds.

Representing the senior members, the club eight, stroked by Trevor Littlewood lies in 34th position overall across the two legs of the race. The eight beat its previous course time by one minute and 20 seconds. The men's pair of Wilcox and Dolby recorded a faster time too, beating their January time by one minute and 19 seconds.

The men's coxless quad, steered by Mark Goddard, was also faster crossing the finishing line one minute and seven seconds ahead of its previous time..

All the Ely crews will be in action again for the third and final leg of the Cambridge Winter League on March 7.