TAMAR and Tavy Gig Club ladies veterans are officially the second fastest in the West. The ?over 40? crew stunned the opposition in all their three races and finished the day at the Cornish Pilot Gig Veterans Championships as runners up, clutching hard earned trophies. After a thrashing at Mevagissey the previous weekend, the crew worked hard in training to sort out some problems and effortlessly won their first heat at Saltash. The second race saw them start very strongly then settle back into a relaxed row to earn a place in the final after another win. Cox Jack Baker, stroke Kate Reeves, Sam Adlam (capt), Carolyn Dawe, Chrissy Baker, Helen Dickinson and Nicky Sellers took to the water for the final against two Salcombe crews, Teign, Caradon and Falmouth ? the latter two generally undisputedly the strongest crews. In only their third season of rowing as a crew, the vet ladies put a huge amount of pressure on the winners Falmouth throughout the final and were right on the winning gig?s stern all the way through the race. The club?s other crews also put in strong races over a long day in the CPGA Mixed and Veterans Championships hosted most efficiently by Caradon Pilot Gig Club. As well as gig racing the club took two honours in the dry rowing races ? rowing machines set on the green and races open to all comers. Ed Hillson won his category, and Matt Pinney won the Under 40s class. The mixed crew, coxed by John Hillson, raced hard against stiff competition to gain a place in the second round of the mixed championships. Helen Smith, Penny Twine, Ruth Walker, Ian Page, Tom Broadbridge, and Ed Hillson made the most of their first heat to add to their one training session but were unable to squeeze into the quarterfinals. In the Mixed Veterans the club entered two crews, including a ?super vets?. Super vets Graham Hodgson, Trish Dugmore, Peter Clarke, Maggie Cartwright, Ann Jeffries, John Rogers and cox Bob Turner put on a display of supreme elegance and determination but sadly didn?t get through to the quarter finals. The ?young? mixed vets, cox Bill Stacey Norris, Nigel Jenkins, Carrie Lawson, Richard Murrin, Roger Strout, Helen Lloyd and Debbie Vojkovic rowed in the full heat of the day but the experience of other vet mixed crews unfortunately got the better of them despite a tremendous effort from all. BRISK southerly winds added an element of excitement to the weekend?s pilot gig racing at Charlestown for local club Tamar and Tavy. The first of the club?s two crews to race in the latest of the Tribute Challenge series was the Ladies? A who never quite showed their true form when faced with water radically different from the River Tamar. Cox Jack Baker, stroke Kate Reeves, Sam Adlam (capt), Julie Williams, Chrissy Baker, Carolyn Dawe and Penny Twine were outclassed in the conditions finishing a disappointing 19 out of 23. They have shown they can apply lessons learnt and so would benefit enormously from some serious sea training if they are to confidently face the county championships at the end of the summer. The Men?s A crew rose to the challenge admirably. Cox Kate Reeves, stroke Ed Hillson, George Hillson, Ian Page, Tom Broadbridge, John Hillson and Matt Pinney took the opportunity to get out onto the water early and got thoroughly soaked while getting accustomed to the waves. The crew pulled through the field with uncompromising determination. The Men?s A crew finished 17/28, justifiably pleased with their performance in conditions that favoured brute force over technical style. The club is holding a newcomers and club session with a barbecue at its Weir Quay base tomorrow (Friday) from 6pm, all welcome.