FOUR crews from Cotehele Quay Gig Club participated in the Three Rivers race at Saltash earlier this month.

This is the first big event of the new season when crews discover how successful their winter training programmes have been. This year there were a record number of gigs entered into the event and Cotehele fielded two men's crews and two ladies' crews consisting of a mix of experienced and new rowers.

This was a gruelling, six mile course which took gigs upstream from the Tamar Bridge to the mouth of the Tamar, across to the mouth of the Tavy, a long stretch down to the mouth of the Lynher and then the last leg back upstream to the finish line just before the bridge. It was a cold day with a brisk wind which added to the challenge.

The club was pleased with the results — the ladies' crews came 26th and 46th out of 63 entries whilst the men's crews came 23rd and 31st out of 67 entries.

The focus on training continues with 12 crews preparing for the world championships in early May.