Star Club's crews produced commendable performances at last week's Henley Royal Regatta with special mention going to the Britannia Challenge Cup crew of Mark Bavington, Dan Hetherington, Rad Bertschinger, Will Eason and Josh Hetherington who ran eventual winner, Leander Club, the closest, writes Ian Rowe.

However, there was a clear gulf in physical terms between the club's crews and the winners of the events they were in.

Coach Pete Mulkerrins said, "The Leander crew were all over 6ft 3ins and 15 stone. I believe two of them were found through the World Class Start scheme which shows why the Times and Citizen-backed Talent Search in Bedford is so important."

So far the Permanent Fixtures sponsored Tim Foster Talent Search has identified four athletes who meet the criteria after only one assessment weekend.

Talent Coach Paula Jardine said: "We are continuing to approach schools to work in partnership with them to bring out the very best potential from the right people."

Current Star member Mark Bavington added: "I am 6ft 3in tall and weigh about 131/2 stone, realistically we need people bigger than me to compete at the highest level.

"This applies to women's rowing just as much as the men's where the average height of a woman rower at the Athens Olympics last year was 5ft 11ins."

If you believe you could be made of the right stuff to get on the World Class Start programme then contact Paula Jardine on 07957 172573 or Ian Rowe on 01234 345534.

The Star Ladies crew of Emily Turner, Sarah Hulance, Louise Burley, Sue Jones and cox Anne Marie King, fresh from their win at Ironbridge Regatta, will be leading the Star Club women's and novices squad at the Bedford Quarts Sprint regatta this weekend looking to add more silverware to their trophy cabinet.