A ROWING team has sunk all opposition to win one of the last regatta events of the year.

Curlew Rowing Club, based in Greenwich, won the Maidenhead Regatta beating west London outfit Sons of the Thames in the final.

More than 2,000 spectators lined the 500m course, which started at Brunel's famous Sounding Arch, to cheer on their teams.

The Curlew men's eight crew, with an average age of 26, was made up entirely of home grown talent and they beat Sir Steve Redgrave's old team Marlow B as well as Marlow A to reach the final.

In the showdown Curlew won by two and a half lengths and recorded the day's fastest race time of 1min 30secs.

To celebrate the victory the oarsmen sank beers out of the silver tankards they were given as prizes.

Coach Ray Cassidy said: "It's nice to see these guys, who were novices at the beginning of the season, coming through to win their first senior pot."

The victory comes towards the end of a good year for Curlew with victories at the Reading Regatta and strong performances by both the men's and women's squads at the Henley Royal Regatta.

For more information on how to join the rowing club, based at The Trafalgar Centre, Crane Street, Greenwich, visit curlewrowingclub.co.uk