The Exeter Head race that took place just before Christmas on the Exeter Ship Canal, starting at Turf Lock, managed to beat the wintry conditions, but it was still not a race for the faint-hearted.
A raw easterly wind greeted the 156 competitors as they gathered in the basin of Turf Lock ready for the division one time trial over 3300 metres.
The course started with a 2k straight line sprint followed by a hair-raising negotiation of a narrow bridge that is also only just above head height.FULL STORY AND OTHER SPORTS TIMES IN OUR ONLINE EDITION