CALSTOCK'S resurgent rowing club celebrated a good performance at the season's first regatta last weekend.

More than a dozen new rowers, some as young as 11, joined the club's small band of stalwarts at Penryn near Falmouth for the opening regatta of the Cornwall Rowing Association's season.

In the four-oar competition Calstock's U16 boys — David Hobbs, Gary Collins, Greg Ivey, Ali Trotter won. So too the U16 mixed crew of Gary Collins, Gareth Davies, Krystal James and Sophie North.

The U14 crew of David Hobbs, Alice Stratton, Nell Trotter and Vicky Hunkin came second to Looe and the U18 boys — Gary Collins, Gareth Davies, Daniel Pook and James Hilton came second to the home team in their race. This team also managed a very creditable third position in the senior men's event, beating Calstock's other two teams.

The U18 girls team of Krystal James, Becky Floyd, Sophie North and Kerry Hobbs came third behind Mousehole and Saltash.

All teams were coxed by Sam North or Sam Pascoe.

In the coxless 'Cornish Randan' class, where one rower with a pair of paddles is supported by two others sporting a single oar on each side, James Hilton, Jack James and Keith Pascoe were beaten into second by Polperro's senior men. The U14s — David Hobbs, Alice Stratton and Jacob Treliving made third behind Looe and Penryn.

Jack James, who runs the club almost single-handedly, said: 'I'm very proud of all the youngsters now involved in the club. Their performance was outstanding for the first regatta of the season.'