A champagne toast was in order for Tamar and Tavy's super-veteran gig rowers after a resounding win at Salcombe. The crew with more than 400 years of experience in the boat and the rowers' average age of 64 years, rowed at an incredible pace to take the mark in first place. Once securely in the lead, they romped home, crossing the line with a comfortable lead against local team Salcombe, who sported a team with average age of 70 years. The veteran category is extremely popular and competitive, however it begins at 40 years - meaning there are few opportunities for the more mature rower to race competitively. Salcombe regatta is the exception as there is a super-vet race for a beautiful wooden trophy with oars and a walking stick entwined. Some great performances by the rest of the club in the new gig Tamar were: Ladies' B battling in the peak of the tide taking ninth place; men's B, seventh; men's A, ninth; ladies' A, eighth; men's vets, sixth; ladies' vets, fifth. Tom Sargeant made an impressive debut as a race cox for the club. It was a rigorous day, with many of the crew rowing two or three of the long races to and from the sand bar, famed in Tennyson's poem 'Crossing of the bar'. A day of sunshine and spectacular scenery ended on a high with the Barbarian's race, in which crews from all clubs present were scrambled. Tamar and Tavy club chairman Bill Stacey-Norris coxed a crew with four Tamar and Tavy rowers to second place in local boat Bolt. The club look forward to their next event, the mixed and veteran championships in Saltash on June 28 and welcome all supporters and spectators. For more information see the website http://www.tntgc.org.uk">www.tntgc.org.uk.
