TAMAR and Tavy Gig Club entered the Great River Race in London last month — a 22.5 mile race up the Thames from Millwall to Ham.

The club entered a crew of eight, Julie Rendle, Lynn Renton, Sarah Gall, Rob Dawe, Claire Luxton, Tricia Stewart and Carolyn Dawe with Simon Howes coxing. The race is in its 27th year, and with 338 boats competing it made for a spectacular day.

Boats of all shapes and sizes entered — the slowest boat, a replica of a boat from the Bronze Age first to head up the river.

Many teams came in fancy dress and there was lots of high spirits and excitement. Tamar and Tavy, rowing Ginette, set off in one of the last groups to go, along with the other 45 pilot gigs entered.

They had a good start, making decent headway through the choppy waters and overtaking some gigs early on. The race passed under 28 bridges, starting with Tower Bridge and going on to pass the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament and Battersea Power Station before finally reaching the quiet waters of Kew, Richmond and Ham.

Club spokesperson Sarah Gall said: 'It was so special to row past so many of the London landmarks. The race took roughly two hours 40 minutes, and the crew did themselves proud, with good strong rowing right up until the end.

'Huge congratulations to them all for undertaking such a feat, and many many thanks to all the supporters, those in London hanging off bridges cheering, and those at home in Devon too. It really was a very special day.'