LAST weekend saw the Tamar and Tavy Gig Club take part in the Great London River Race as they have done for several years now.

This year the club took a record 3 crews.

The 21 mile race up the Thames starts at London Docklands and finishes at Ham in Surrey and passes all the famous landmarks such as Westminster, Canary Wharf, the London Eye etc and passing under all the famous bridges. This year 300 boats entered including Viking longships, Naval Whalers, Thames Cutters and of course Cornish Pilot gigs.

The conditions on the Thames at the weekend were atrocious with torrential rains and even thunder and lightening as the boats passed under Tower Bridge.

The mixed crew of Wendy McLean, Penny Twine, Richard Anstey, Rob Dawe, Martin Painter, Fizz Ward and Carolyn Dawe finished in 2 hours 40 mins with cox Mike Vosper clearing the course at the top of his voice as the gig pushed through the field. The ladies "Hot Flushes" team of Jo Cameron, Ruth Walker, Paula Haynes-Parry, Lyn Renton, Sandra Larbey-Anstey, Tricia Stewart and Nicky Evans was coxed by John Rogers and finished in 2 hours 47 minutes.

For the first time the club took a junior crew which was an incredible challenge for the youngsters, Rosie Lloyd, Miles Eastaugh, Tara Twine, Megan Haynes-Parry, Caitlin Haynes-Parry, Amber Friendship and Drew Mortimore. Cox Bill Stacey Norris said the young crew just carried on rowing through the icy rain and storms showing little signs of coldness or being disheartened and as the sun came out with six miles to go they went flat out counting their strokes in three different languages, getting huge applause from the river banks as well as from the boats they were passing. They finished in just over 3 hours and gained an amazing third place in the under 18 category while their ages range from only 13 to 16.

Congratulations and thanks should also be given to the club members who towed the gigs up to London and back and through the city in rush hour – Brian Nobbs, Mike Vosper and Martin Painter.

For more information about the club please see the website for details http://www.tamarandtavygigclub.co.uk">www.tamarandtavygigclub.co.uk