Rowing: Lawson retains title by steering wily course

The Wingfield Sculls, contested yesterday by five scullers from Putney to Mortlake (as it has been since 1830), is a test of watermanship as much as skill and power on four miles of tidal water round bends and through bridges. Ian Lawson's winning time of 26min 13sec was only two minutes quicker than E D Brickwood achieved on a fixed seat in 1861, the first year in which times were taken.

Lawson, however, steered a wily course and was far from sluggish in unique conditions, because the Thames barrier was closed. If there was any hint of a helpful tide, Richard Ockendon (Nottingham and Union) found it by keeping to the Surrey side to the mile post, while Lawson, of Leander, in the centre station, made straight for the Middlesex side. "On the start I decided to cut the corners and take the straightest route," he said.

Hugging the banks avoided the stream commanding the centre of the river. When the Middlesex huggers closed with the Surrey huggers approaching Hammersmith, Ockendon was more than two seconds ahead of Lawson, with the lightweight international Mark Hunter (Leander) four seconds behind him.

Lawson took the lead at Chiswick Eyot and commanded thereafter to retain his Wingfield title in style. But when it comes to racing from Putney to Mortlake, a tide is sorely missed.

Hunter stuck to his name, sculling with precision and tailgateing Ockendon until he slipped through passing Mortlake brewery, near the finish.

WINGFIELD SCULLS (Putney to Mortlake) 1 I Lawson (Leander) 26min 13sec; 2 M Hunter (Leander) 26.19; 3 R Ockendon (Nottingham and Union) 26.32; 4 A Campbell (Tideway Scullers) 27.39; 5 R Wilder (Tideway Scullers) not rowed out.