Twelve state-of-the-art ergometer rowing machines were lined up at Launceston's Phoenix Park Leisure Centre for the annual Cornwall indoor rowing championships.

Although the outright winner was Stuart Williams, of Exeter, Tremough Campus' Sports Centre entrants produced a remarkably high success rate per athlete entered.

Tremough, winners-in-category, were Falmouth painter and decorator and keen cyclist Danny McKernan who retained his 50 years-plus event title and John Poland who rows for Falmouth and Mylor gig club and Greenbank Falmouth.

Nick Healey, an ex Henley and Australian surf boat rower, demonstrated rowing skill at its best to gain second place in the 30-plus. Kate Conway, a new arrival at Tremough Sports Centre and Falmouth Greenbank rower, came a highly creditable fourth in the women's open in a powerful field won by Karen George of Falmouth gig club. Newcomer to ergo racing, though a regular athlete-in-training at Tremough, Andy Blake pulled off a remarkable seventh in a strong field of 16 also in the 30-plus group.

John Poland said: "The Tremough gym is a brand new and quite exceptional facility. It is the best place I have found in which to train in the course of my involvement with rowing clubs in all of the home countries. It really does help fitness."