COTEHELE Quay Gig Club hosted its first regatta on Saturday challenging neighbouring teams on the river to race from the Saltash Bridge to Cotehele Quay.

The 'Tamar Challenge' a pursuit race of approximately nine miles passes Cargreen, the Pentille Estate and Halton Quay, one of the most picturesque stretches of the river.

Crews from Rame and Tamar and Tavy based at Weir Quay joined Cotehele in the closely run race, embracing windy conditions and swell from pleasure boats which gave the usually gentle river, some difficult conditions for the crews to contend with.

Tamar held off stiff competition until just passed Weir Quay when they were overtaken by the much younger crews. Rame Gig Club's Minnadhu crossed the finish line first with Cotehele's Men's A in The Cream of Cornwall only 30 seconds behind, an exciting finish for the spectators who braved the rain to come out and cheer.

Cotehele entered all three of the club's boatswith the Men's A rowing alongside Men's B and a mixed crew.

Gill Manning-Cox who coaxed the Men's B team said: 'With the wind and waves in the river, we surfed the way back home to the quay! Once we reached our familiar stretch of the river, the boys rowed like heroes with a fast, firm stroke all the way to the finish."

Credit was also due to the three crews from Cotehele who rowed the gigs down to Saltash prior to the race against the tides and with strong winds. It is hoped that the Tamar Challenge will become an annual event for the club.

The crew of Tamar and Tavy — coxed by Jo Cameron with rowers John Rogers, Martin Painter, Fizz Ward, Nicky Evans, Jane Morton and Becky Masters — rowed to and from the event, a round trip of 18 miles, a superb achievement in itself.