VISITORS to Morwellham Quay over the Bank Holiday weekend had a surprise in the shape of a Tamar and Tavy Gig Club crew embarking on a 20 mile row. Barely wrinkling the air of calm on the River Tamar, the rowers gracefully hopped into the gig Ginette and headed for Queen Anne?s Battery. The Weir Quay-based crew is in training for the Trafalgar Great River Race, 22 miles from Richmond to Greenwich in London on September 17. The first Great River Race was in 1988 created for traditional coxed craft with a minimum of four paddles or oars, and each with a passenger. The race now attracts over 300 boats, over 2,000, in many guises, from Viking Long boats, through Hawaiian outriggers to naval whalers. The only mixed crew in its category, the Tamar and Tavy rowers have a tough battle ahead but they are fierce contenders in the pilot gig category. As part of their training for the race in London on September 17 the crew set off on a fitness and time trial as well as taking in pleasant sights of the River Tamar. Lynn Hosking, Julie Williams, Sean Lock, Ian Page, Robert Dawe, Carolyn Dawe and Kate Reeves seemed to provide entertainment to passengers on passing river cruisers as they ploughed downstream in blistering heat. The crew of the Ginette dodged ferries and traffic of a sunny Bank Holiday weekend on the water at Plymouth and made good time to Queen Anne?s Battery despite being a crew member light ? Samantha Adlam is in training in France. The Ladies of Tamar and Tavy A crew will be battling it out for their end of season league position in the gig championships at Newquay on September 10 and 11. The Mens? championship is the weekend after the Great London River Race, on September 24 and 25. For more information about the Tamar and Tavy Gig Club http://www.tntgc.org.uk">www.tntgc.org.uk For more information about the Trafalgar River Race http://www.greatriverrace.co.uk">www.greatriverrace.co.uk