A GROUP from Tavistock are pulling together with fellow members of the Mayflower Offshore Rowing Club to put on a world sporting event later this year — and they already have secured the help of rowing legend Sir Steve Redgrave.

The club, which operate out of the Royal Western Yacht Club at Queen Anne's Battery, Plymouth, will be staging the FISA World Coastal Rowing Championships there between October 23-25.

Twelve of the club's 45 members are from the Tavistock area. Among these are club captain Tony Lovering and family, Jeff Hammond and family, Ian Douglas and family, Paul German and family, Gill Cox (from Calstock), Lucy Briant (Kelly Bray) and Danni Pullen (Gunnislake).

Rowing teams from more than 22 countries, including the United States of America, New Zealand, Canada, Turkey, Israel and many from Europe will be taking part.

The event is a huge commitment, costing around £250,000 to stage, including supplying the specialists boats and putting up 22 international judges and all the operational expenses.

In order to fundraise for the event a special gala dinner, backed by the Amateur Rowing Association, is being hosted by the MORC at the Holiday Inn on Saturday (June 13). Sir Steve Redgrave, the five times Olympic gold medallist, who will be guest speaker.

Tony Lovering from Tavistock, who set up MORC along with Paul German in 2003 following the Eddystone Challenge, said: 'We have come quite a long way in a short space of time.

'A couple of years ago we only had two boats, second hand, now we have nine. People from all walks of life are taking part, who are all shapes and sizes, who enjoy the sport.

'It's a challenging sport, in an ever changing environment, with the sea and the conditions never the same, each time we go out.'

There are some tickets available for the gala dinner with special guest Sir Steve Redgrave — for more information contact Tony on 077399 170 40.