THE senior members of Tamar and Tavy Gig Club have been setting the standard for the youngsters and the future of the growing club with two impressive successes over the weekend. The veteran ladies (over 40) of the Weir Quay-based club won the CPGA Ladies Veterans Championships in fine style on Saturday. After winning their qualifying races with lengths to spare they left no one in any doubt that they deserve the title building on last year?s second place. Caradon Pilot Gig Club hosted the CPGA Mixed and Veteran Championships on Saturday for the second year running with consummate ease, cramming in races for 103 entries, and starting a race every four minutes despite the rain hammering down until the early afternoon. The ladies, coxed by Jack Baker, showed the power of controlled aggression as they faced many old foes as they raced up the Tamar from Saltash. Stroke Kate Reeves, Ruth Walker, Carolyn Dawe, Chrissy Baker, Helen Dickinson and Nicky Sellars demonstrated the value of fight and fitness, technique and teamwork as they rowed against crews with many more years? experience. The club also entered a men?s veteran crew which claimed third place in the place race, and mixed crew, also taking third in their place race. The presence of the supporters who made the effort to cross the county border was much appreciated by those rowing for death or glory. Not content with having the fastest ladies on the circuit, Tamar and Tavy Gig Club took six more crews to Salcombe Regatta on Sunday and won the Men?s Super Vets trophy. The trophy for the over 55 category has been in the sights of these senior rowers since the club donated to the event three years ago. Cox Robert Dawe took the crew to the podium after a good row and John Rogers, Jonathan Young, Peter Clarke, Rae Bullough, Graham Hodgson, and Paul Fletcher claimed the dividend of solid team training. Though young men of the club put plenty of effort into the event, they seemed to feel the effect of some of their crew having raced the previous day, but no doubt will have benefited from the experience with the newer members of the crew getting more racing miles under their collective belt. The men?s B had a more successful race and enjoyed the endorphins that come with a good fight In a bid to ensure that lack of racing experience is never a handicap they have to contend with, the club?s juniors, some only 10 years old, had a thoroughly enjoyable day and came away with a tan if not a placing. The ladies? super vets could not match their male counterparts but flew the flag for the club all the same, as did the ladies? B crew. And to round off the day the club?s pilot gig Ginette came in first in the Barbarians Race - where a mishmash of oarsmen and women race the full course, having never rowed with each other before, showing that a boat is as good as the people who row her. For more information about rowing pilot gigs, Tamar and Tavy Gig Club and how to join, see http://www.tntgc.org">www.tntgc.org. The club is holding its regular open evening and social tomorrow (Friday). All welcome. To try your hand at rowing with champions, call development rep Bill Stacey Norris 07886 945731.