IN the penultimate regatta before the Ladies? County Championships at Newquay, Tamar and Tavy gig crews aired their collective competitive sprit at Fowey Regatta on Saturday. The crew to get the worst of the weather was the Ladies A, second race of the day and victims of a violent downpour. However, unphased by the opening of the Heavens the ladies, stroke Kate Reeves, Lynn Pollard, Julie Williams, Chrissy Baker, Carolyn Dawe put their backs into the race and moved relentlessly through the field. Coxed by an ever more competitive Jack Baker, the boat Ginette finished second in her heat, and 11th out of 17 in the ladies A division. The Men?s A spent sometime bailing out the boat after the rain before setting off in the second heat in their division. Cox Kate Reeves, stroke Ed Hillson, John Hillson, Ian Page, Matt Pinney, Peter Clark, (69 the previous week) and Steve Jackson on a rare foray from the Bere Peninsula, gave chase and finished 17 out of 19 overall. In just their second race of the season, the Under 16s had a thoroughly enjoyable competition coxed by club chairman Bob Turner. The crew Alex Newton, Matt Walker, James Tailyour, Jen Young, Sam Brockington and Beth Gaye had a grand time beasting around the junior course beating the host club Fowey. The crew finished 8th. Undaunted by being three light and with an injured and therefore non-functioning cox, the Men?s B borrowed Roseland chief Chris Hitchin to cox them and thrived under his tutelage. Steve Farmer, Robert Dawe, Mario Michelli and three redoubtable Torridge men had a terrific race and demonstrated the odd spirt of gig racing coming back utterly exhausted but beaming. The crew finished 12 in a field of 17. The club?s veterans coxed by Graham Hodgson also enjoyed their race despite having a few more years on their ages than most of the gig crews. Maggie Cartwright, John Rogers, Ann Jeffries, Trish Dugmore, Bruce Horner and Rob Smith returned pleased with their efforts against strong competition. The final Tamar and Tavy crew to perform at Fowey was the mixed crew, also requisitioning a cox from the friendly mob of competing clubs. Julie Williams, Lynn Pollard, Antonia Gould, John Hillson, Ed Hillson and Ian Page had a most satisfying row justifiably feeling the day long wait was worth their while. They finished 7 out of 13. Newcomers and club members are welcome at Weir Quay this Friday 6pm. For more information http://www.tntgc.org.uk">www.tntgc.org.uk
