Alan Purvis I live in North East England and I cannot remember seeing any competitions advertised within a hundred miles or so of my home. I came to indoor rowing late in life at my Health Club but found that, aged over sixty, I could manage 2,000m in under eight minutes and 5,000m in under twenty-one minutes without any specific training. I am an ex-rugby prop forward who has kept in shape with running, cycling and swimming since I stopped playing. Can anyone in the Durham area help to satisfy my competitive urges? (especially as I now have the free bus-pass!) PS Don't let anyone say that the attempts at humour in your newsletter are childish and pathetic! I speak as a mature University undergraduate who has seen the efforts of students in their publications and there is just no comparison! Rising above the postscript in a positively St Francis of Assisi fashion, we shall instead point put that after the Manchester GP last January, the closest race to Durham this season is the Scottish IRC in Stranraer on April 26th. This is definitely worth a trip for anybody who can manage it. Contact David Hislop on 01776 703535 or davidh@dumgal.gov.uk for more details and an entry form. Compared to the number of races that take place in the Midland's area, there is a definite lack of races Oop North, the Manchester GP and the two Scottish races aside. Maybe it's time for somebody to take the bull by the horns and start planning one? If you fancy running a race up there, then make sure you let us know at editor@therowingcompany.com.