Northern Irish rower wins in London

11 December 2008 -

A Northern Irish rower has secured victory in one of the few sculling races he had not previously won.

Coleraine-born Alan Campbell won the 55th Scullers Head, held on the River Thames this weekend, the Coleraine Times reports.

The race is the only major UK race the rower has yet to win and his mother said he is "very pleased with the result".

Mr Campbell belongs to the Tideway Scullers School, who said he "beat a strong field that contained many British Olympians and internationals past and present".

Jennifer Campbell, Alan's mother, told the newspaper: "It was an important event for Alan."

She said he has won the Fours Head, the Paris Head and the Wingfield and Diamond Sculls at Henley in 2003 and 2007, but had yet to secure victory in this race.

Mr Campbell won the 4.25 mile event 15 seconds ahead of the second-place boat, getting a time of 20:30:57.