Head of the Charles draws top rowers

Trailers loaded with boats are rolling in from all directions of the United States to the east-coast city of Boston. Along the way they will be passing billboards advertising insurance and featuring an older woman dressed ready to row. Meet Liz Stone, the oldest female rower at this weekend's Head of the Charles Rowing Regatta (HOCR).

Liz Stone

Stone, 78, exemplifies the spirit of the HOCR which attracts Olympic gold medalists through to Stone who had never done a competitive sport until she took up rowing at the age of 65. ?I always thought I wasn't competitive,? says Stone. ?But I discovered that I was. I would be out on the water and want to overtake all of the men.?

One of the 7,500 competitors, Stone will race over the same 5km course as the likes of Olympic gold medalist Iztok Cop of Slovenia and current single sculling World Champion, New Zealand's Mahe Drysdale along with World Junior Champion Daniel Frateanu of Romania and British Olympic medalists Rebecca Romero and Debbie Flood.

Stone will open Saturday's racing when she takes on five other women in her 70+ age group in front of the same 300,000 strong crowd that will watch Great Britain's Cambridge University attempt to defend their 2004 title in the men's eight against a plethora of top international rowing blood including the Netherlands, Germany and this year's World Rowing Championships silver medalists, Italy.

Although this is Stone's 11th year of competing at the HOCR she admits the steering is still a challenge. Stone will be navigating the winding Charles River that has seen boats over the years hitting bridge abutments, the shore, rowing docks and other boats.

?The first time I raced I did a terrible job navigating,? says Stone. ?I had penalties (for missing buoys). Navigation is not my strong point so the race is always a challenge.?

Stone's training has been limited by her job. She works at the Open Water Rowing Centre in San Francisco doing rigging, maintenance and ?schlepping boats about?. ?Often I'm too tired to go rowing, so I'm lucky to get out once or twice a week,? says Stone, but she admits that an indoor rowing machine sits in her living room.

And her goal for the HOCR? ?Last year I wanted to be the oldest but not the slowest and I want to be the same this year.?

Racing at the Head of the Charles begins on Friday 21st with the Virgin Atlantic 350m Sprint of London vs Boston ? Cambridge University, Leander Club, Harvard University and Northeastern University at 2pm EST.

Racing continues Saturday morning with the senior veterans single and wraps up Sunday afternoon with the championship eights.

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For more information go to: www.hocr.org