Port of Bideford Regatta - Saturday 12th September 2009

What a day!! It was just like yesteryear!!

Crowds lined the riverbank of the Torridge, water conditions were perfect, the sun shone, and the noise coming from those crowds certainly made for a great atmosphere at the final West of England regatta of the season.

With six wins, five second places and a third-place as well it all added up to a great day for the club, and what made it even more special, with the points accrued from those placings, the club also took the Billy Little Cup, competed for by the Blues and Reds at the regatta, for the first time in seven years.

In only the fourth race of the day Jessica Myers and Nicky Reed started the points rolling by winning the Ladies Under 16 double sculls.

Later they teamed up with fellow Kingsley School students Hannah Myers and Alice Jackson, with 16-year-old “birthday boy” Chris Daniel as cox to win the Ladies Under 16 quadruple sculls event as well and the points gained meant they shared second place in the WEARA championship as well.

After the youngsters it was the “old men’s” turn.

Colin Pennington, Dave Byrnes, Nigel Cann and Neil Pennington with Chris Daniel again coxswaining, winning the Men’s Veteran fours beating local rivals Bideford Reds in the process.

Then the youngsters took over again.

Oli Roberts-Key and Owen Godwin won the Mens Under 14 double sculls and, not to be outdone by the boys, Zoe Robertson and Naomi Locke followed that up by winning the Womens Under 14 double sculls event as well.

To round off the winning day, the penultimate event saw the Mixed Novice four of Bethan Waters, Ashley Clayton, Tom Pugsley and Chris Glover, with Chris Daniel completing a hat-trick of wins in the coxswain’s seat, taking a three-length win to secure the final points.

In between all these wins cam a second-place finish for the Women’s Senior C four of Kate Wilson, Hayley Wilson, Bethan Waters and Becca Jeffery with Sophie Pearce coxswaining.

After going their separate ways in their respective double sculls events a mixed crew of Zoe Robertson, Naomi Locke, Owen Godwin and Oli Roberts-Key, with coach Tina Robertson as cox, having to compete in the Mens Under 14 quadruple sculls race, also took a runners-up spot.

The final three runners-up positions were for Alice Jackson in the Womens Under 16 single sculls and the two points gained meant that she came runner-up in the respective WEARA championship, and two for Dave Byrnes, to finish off his busy day, in the Mens Senior C single sculls and then, finally, the Mens Veteran single sculls.

The third-place finishers were the Mens Under 16 quadruple sculls crew of Milo George, Jack Harty, Oli Roberts-Key and Owen Goodwin, with Tina Robertson as their cox.

Also competing on the day were Bethan Waters and Becca Jeffery in the Ladies Open double sculls, Milo George and Jack Harty in the Mens Under 16 double sculls and the Ladies Novice fours crew of Kate Wilson, Ashley Clayton, Maria Clements and Bethan Waters with Sophie Pearce as cox.

The Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta, Thursday 27th August 2009 .

The penultimate regatta of the 2009 West of England Amateur Rowing Association’s (WEARA) season took place on the River Dart in dry weather!!! The previous days had seen driving rain and gale-force winds so we were indeed fortunate on the day.

Winners!!

Showing that they had lost none of their competitive spirit the mens Veteran C crew, in their first regatta of the season, showed the youngsters how it should be done.

Colin Pennington, Dave Byrnes, Nigel Cann and Neil Pennington, with Chris Daniel as coxswain, came home in first place against older and younger crews in their event.

Half-an-hour later Dave Byrnes took to the water again in the mens Veteran single sculls and again came home a winner beating four other scullers in the process.

Second-place finishers.

Of the younger members of the club the mens Under 18 fours crew of Tom Loka, Tom Carlyon Milo George and Tom Pugsley, with Chris Daniel again as cox, gained a highly commendable second place against the unbeaten and WEARA championship-winning crew of Dart-Totnes.

Alice Jackson, in the womens Junior Under 16 single sculls dead-heated for second place and the points gained keeps her in second place in the WEARA championship.

Third-place finishers.

The womens Junior Under 16 quadruple scullers of Hannah Myers, Jessica Myers, Alice Jackson and Nicky Reed, with Chris Daniel continuing his busy day as a coxswain, took third place in their event and cemented their third position in the respective WEARA championship.

Competing for the first time since the end of June because of holidays, the Junior Under 14 quadruple scullers Zoe Robertson, Naomi Locke, Owen Godwin and Oli Roberts-Key, with Tom Loka this time as cox, competing in the mens event took a third place finish.

The mixed Senior C four of Tom Loka, Bethan Waters, Becka Jeffery and Tom Pugsley, with coach Tina Robertson as cox, fought their way to a third place finish as the wind started to get up, chopping up the water, later in the day.

Also competed.

The womens Senior C four of Kate Wilson, Hayley Wilson, Bethan Waters and Becka Jeffery, with Sophie Pearce as cox, got through to the final of the their event but were unable to take a podium finish.

Torquay Regatta, Saturday 22nd August 2009 .

In a truncated Regatta held off Hollicombe Beach in Torbay the only crew to take to the water for the Blues was the womens Under 16 quadruple sculls crew of twins Hannah and Jessica Myers, Alice Jackson and Nicky Reed with their coach Tina Robertson as cox.

In very lumpy conditions they secured a very impressive second place. Not long after their race the regatta was cancelled altogether because of the worsening weather conditions.

Paignton Regatta, Saturday 8th August, 2009 .

This weekend we travelled to the south coast of Devon , and the beach at Paignton, for the latest in the series of the West of England ARA championship regattas.An early morning start saw fairly flat water for most of the regatta before the pleasure boats started vying their trade causing the water to chop-up a bit later in the morning, but not enough to cause too many problems for the crews.Zoe Robertson and Naomi Lock followed up their win at Appledore last weekend with another this week in the womens Under 14 double sculls, but this time they had to share the honours when they dead-heated with local rivals – Bideford Reds.The womens Senior C four crew of Kate Wilson, Bethan Waters, Hayley Wilson and Becka Jeffery, with Chris Daniel as cox, led for most of the way in their event but just lost out at the finish, taking second place, after hitting some heavy wash not long before the finish.

During the womens Under 16 coxed quadruple scull event the screams of seagulls were heard – or was it Zoe Robertson screaming out on the water?! –  as the crew of Zoe, twins Hannah and Jessica Myers and Nicky Reed, with their coach Tina Robertson in the coxswains seat, taking yet another podium finish, this time a third place.

In the mixed Senior B fours race Becka Jeffery and Hayley Wilson joined forces with Milo George and Tom Loka to take a second place finish, behind local rivals, Bideford Reds, with whom their crew-mate, Bethan Waters, had stepped in to help them out when they were one crew member short!!

Appledore & Instow Regatta, Sunday 2nd August 2009 .

A day to savour for all of our rowers on Sunday at Appledore & Instow Regatta.

Everyone who went on the water in fours, doubles and sculls gained a top three position.

Winners were the Mixed Novice crew of Kingsley College students Bethan Waters, Ashley Clayton, Tom Pugsley and Tom Loka with their coach, Tina Robertson, coxing them to victory.

Not to be outdone by mum, Tina’s daughter Zoe teamed up with Naomi Locke to take first place in the womens Under 14 double sculls event.

Also a winner, in his first outing of the season, was Dave Byrnes in the mens Novice single sculls.

A second place finish was recorded by the mens Under 18 fours crew of Tom Loka, Milo George, Tom Pugsley and Chris Glover with Chris Daniel as cox.

Taking third place finishes in their respective events were the Ladies Senior C four of Kate Wilson, Bethan Waters, Hayley Wilson and Becka Jeffery with Sophie Pearce as coxswain and the Ladies Under 16 coxed quadruple scullers Zoe Robertson, twins Hannah and Jessica Myers and Nicky Reed with Tom Loka coxswaining.

Greenbank Falmouth Regatta, Stithians Lake , Saturday 25th July 2009 .

With holidays taking their toll of crew members Bideford Blues were not able to send too many crews to this fifth regatta of the West of England Amateur Rowing Association’s season – the half-way point – held on Stithians Lake in Cornwall .

In the womens Junior Under 16 coxed quadruple sculls event the crew of Nicky Reed, Jessica and Hannah Myers with Zoe Robertson, deputising for regular crew member Alice Jackson and Chris Daniel as cox gained yet another podium finish when they took third place in their event.

Zoe then teamed up with Naomi Locke in the womens junior Under 16 double sculls to take a fine second place.

As is allowed under WEARA Rules that girls can row/scull with boys in junior events, providing it is in the mens(!), in the mens Junior Under 16 double sculls event, because his usual male partner was not available, Milo George was joined by Jessica Myers and although they competed to the best of their ability against all boys they were unable to gain a medal position.

Wimbleball Regatta, Saturday 18th July 2009 .

Conditions were near perfect at Wimbleball Lake on Exmoor on Saturday for the fourth West of England ARA regatta of the season, held over the Olympic-length course distance of 2000 metres – a long way!!

Gone were the heavy rains and high winds of Friday and the only thing the rowers in the championship events had to contend with was the unusually long course - the Wimbleball club using this opportunity as a rehearsal for next year’s (2010) South Coast Rowing Championships which are to be held there.

First on the water for the Blues, making his first appearance of the season, was single-sculler Neil Pennington, competing in the men’s Veteran single sculls. Fortunately this race was only held over 1,000 metres, but unfortunately he was unable to secure a podium finish, as was the case when he also competed in the Novice single-sculls event.

Young Kingsley School student Alice Jackson was a busiest of our competitors on the day. First she took part in a heat of the womens Junior Under 16 single sculls - which she won. Then after a break of about three-quarters of an hour she teamed up with fellow Kingsley School students, twins Hannah and Jessica Myers and Nicky Reed, with Chris Daniel as cox to compete in the womens Junior Under 16 coxed quadruple sculls securing a third place finish.

Than, after another short break, she went out again for the final of her single sculls event and came home not far behind the winner in second place.

The womens Senior C four of Kate Wilson, Maria Clements (her first competitive row of the season), Hayley Wilson and Becca Jeffery, with Chris Daniel again coxswaining, had to wait until the penultimate event of the day at 5.30 in the afternoon before they took to the water and, following on from last week’s podium finish, they this week came home in third place after competing over the long course!

This coming weekend we go to the other end of the South West, Stithians Lake in Cornwall.

The 2009 West of England Amateur Rowing Association regatta season held its third regatta at Exeter, following on from Plymouth and Dart-Totnes.

Bideford Amateur Athletic Club – the Blues – had varying fortunes over those three regattas.

Plymouth

At Plymouth the Womens Junior Under 16 coxed quadruple sculls crew with the Kingsley School students of twins Hannah and Jessica Myers, Alice Jackson and Nicky Reed, with Chris Daniel as coxswain, came first in their event taking home the Sangwell Trophy. The same crew couldn’t repeat that success at Totnes where, unfortunately, they did not make it through to the final but at Exeter a determined performance gave them a second place finish, and they now share joint first place in the championship table.

At Plymouth , also, Alice Jackson took home the Dragon Trophy by winning the Womens Junior Under 16 single sculls race, and then she teamed up with crew mate Jessica Myers to take a second place in the Womens Junior Under 16 double sculls event.

Dart-Totnes

At Totnes a mixed crew of Junior Under 14 scullers, again mostly made up of Kingsley School students, having to compete in the Boys Junior Under 14 event, came home in second place - an improvement of one position from Plymouth , were they came third. The crew comprised Zoe Robertson, Naomi Locke, Owen Godwin and Oli Roberts-Key, with Chris Daniel as cox.

These four crew members then went their separate ways in the Junior Under 14 double sculls events. Owen and Oli claiming a second place at both Plymouth and Totnes which was matched by Zoe and Naomi in the corresponding girls event at Plymouth .

Exeter

At Exeter , in only their second competitive row together, the Womens Senior C four of Kate Wilson, Bethan Waters, Hayley Wilson and Becca Jeffery, with Sophie Pearce as cox, had a very commendable second place finish.

The Mixed Novice crew of Milo George, Bethan Waters, Ashleigh Clayton and Tom Loka, with Chris Daniel again coxswain, secured third place finishes at both Totnes and Exeter .

Others competing so far this season have been the Mens Novice four of Milo George, Chris Glover, Tom Carlyon and Tom Loka, Womens Novice single sculler Ashleigh Clayton and the Womens Novice double scullers Bethan Waters and Becca Jeffery.

Exeter Small Boats Head Race  

Competing at the recent Exeter Small Boats Head race the students from Grenville/Blues took to the water in what is probably the last time they will row under that name.

In the New Year Grenville College and Edgehill College are combining to form the new Kingsley College and thus there will be a change of name to Kingsley/Blues.  

A new young crew of Junior Under 14s competing in the quadruple sculls took first place in their event and the crew of Zoe Robertson, Ben Reeves, Owen Godwin and Oliver Roberts-Keys with coach Tina Robinson in the cox seat are to be congratulated. Also winners on the day were the Junior Under 16 double scullers Milo George and Angus Gaskell. Unfortunately not all the students had competition in their respective classes, but they all had good times nevertheless.

Womens Junior Under 15 quad scullers Megan Harty, Rosie Klymow, Nicky Reed and Emma French with Hattie Hill as cox; Womens Junior Under 15 double scullers, twin sisters  Hannah and Jessica Myers;

52nd South Coast and Open Championships and 3rd South Coast Junior Regatta –

Friday and Saturday 12th and 13th September, 2008 .

Glorious weather and ideal rowing conditions greeted everyone attending the 52nd South Coast Championship and Open Regatta and the 3rd South Coast Junior Regatta held on the River Plym at Plymouth on Friday and Saturday this last weekend – and two winning performances for members of Bideford Amateur Athletic Club – the Blues.

For the first time the Regatta was held – owing to tidal constraints – over two days, and the Blues can be proud of the achievements of those members taking part.

On the Friday a winning Championship performance at the Junior Regatta came from the Ladies Under 14 coxed quadruple sculls crew of Hannah Myers, Nicky Reed, Jessica Myers and Alice Jackson, coxswained on the day by Tom Loka, who stormed to their best performance of the season, leaving the other crews in their wake, winning by more than five lengths. On a busy afternoon for Alice she then sculled her way to a second place finish in the Ladies Under 14 single sculls event before joining forces with Jessica to take third place in the Ladies Under 14 double sculls race. Ashleigh Clayton and Bethan Waters, although winning their heat of the Ladies Under 16 double sculls, just missed out in the final coming home in fourth place. The boys didn’t get completely left behind!!

The crew of Tom Pugsley, Thomas Carlyon, Chris Glover and Tom Loka, coxed by Chris Daniel, on his birthday, gained a podium finish by coming third in the Mens Under 18 coxed fours event. All of these Blues youngsters, apart from cox Chris Daniel, are Grenville College students and are coached by Tina Robertson. Both the College and Club are proud of their achievements under her guidance this season.

On Saturday, in the main events of the weekend, the first race of the day saw that same crew of Tom Pugsley, Thomas Carlyon, Chris Glover and Tom Loka, again coxed by Chris Daniel, record a half-length win in their heat of the Mens Novice fours before just missing out in the final by finishing second - in spite of a broken rudder!!

But the best was yet to come!!

The “old” men of the club took to the water for the Mens Veteran Over 40 coxed fours race for the Sidney De Haan Cup, originally sponsored by SAGA!!

Port of Bideford Regatta – Saturday 6th September 2008

With his younger daughter being married in the afternoon Colin Pennington, along with brother Neil, Dave Byrnes and Nigel Cann, the Mens Veteran fours crew were in the first race on the water for Saturday’s final West of England Regatta of the season on the River Torridge. Although having to give away an 11-second start they had to settle for a second place finish as they just failed by a quarter-of-a-length distance in their pursuit of the winners.

The club’s only winner on the day was young Alice Jackson in the Ladies Junior Under 14 single sculls. But podium finishes were recorded by several of the other younger club crews.

In the championship fours events the Ladies Junior Under 14 quadruple sculls crew of Nicky Reed, Hannah, and twin sister Jessica, Myers and Alice Jackson were second and so confirmed their runners-up position in that championship. The Mens Under 18 fours crew of Tom Pugsley, Thomas Carlyon, Chris Glover and Tom Loka, with Chris Daniel as cox, came third on the day and so took fourth place in that championship, as well as sharing the same place in the Mens Senior C championship, although not competing in that event on the day.

The Mens Senior B  four of Andrew Wilson, Matt Colwill, Adam Kelly and Nick Blight with Michelle Lewis as cox – and the same crew – with Adam Bright replacing Andrew Wilson – also competed in the Senior C event, but in both cases were unable to mount the rostrum!!

Unfortunately, the Ladies Senior C crew of Sarah-Jane Lee, Becca Jeffery, Jessica Lee and Vicki Bushby, with Chris Daniel again as cox, failed to finish as one of the girls was taken ill in the boat. In the “fun!!” Mixed fours events there were second place finishes for both the Senior C crew of Nick Blight, Adam Kelly, Vicki Bushby and Becca Jeffery and the Novice crew of Tom Carlyon, Tom Loka, Ashleigh Clayton and Bethan Waters.

In the pairs and double sculls events Jessica Myers and Alice Jackson took second place in front of third placed Nicky Reed and Hannah Myers in the Ladies Junior Under 14 double sculls and the two Toms, Pugsley and Loka, came third in the Mens Open Pairs.

Club Races – Sunday 31st August 2008

With the West of England rowing season drawing to a close, and a free weekend with a timely tide, the Rowing Section held their Club Races for the prestigious Ridge Shield and the Muriel Dymond Cup for sweep-oared fours racing, and for the BAAC Shield for quadruple scullers on the River Torridge on Sunday 31st August.

With crews drawn “out of the hat” it is always a keenly contested event with all rowers wanting to add their names to those already engraved on the Ridge Shield from years gone by and many a club WEARA Championship winner has failed in the quest.

This year three crews lined up at the start in the senior event with varying age ranges and experience in all three boats. In one boat, for example, there was 18-year-old Becca Jeffery stroking and 62-year-old granddad Barrie White in the bow. In the middle seats sat Adam Kelly and Jon Hare and the crew was coxswained by Hannah Wilson in the “Frank Parkhouse.” But this mixture of youth and experience was not enough!! They just failed in their chase of the other two boats. Eventual winners were the crew of stroke Andrew Wilson, Nigel Cann (now there is experience!!), Ricky Syvret ( a “Reds” rower, but able to row in the race because he is also a Blues club member) and the “stunning” Sarah-Jane Lee in the bow seat with Sophie Pearce as cox in the “Bideford Bridge Trust.”

Runners-up were Vicky Bushby, Dave Byrnes, Matt Colwill and Adam Bright with Chris Daniel as cox in the “Bob Kelly.”

Dartmouth Royal Regatta – Thursday 28th August 2008

After the weather of recent weeks it was a change to have the sunshine out at Dartmouth for the penultimate West of England Regatta of the season. But there was no change in the points scorers for the Club.

Once again it was the younger rowers who led the way.

The best performance of the day came from Tom Pugsley, Thomas Carlyon, Tom Loka and Adam Bright, with Chris Daniel as cox, who came first in their heat and then gained a highly commendable second placed finish in the final of the Mens Senior C fours against older and more experienced rowers. Also gaining a second place finish were the Womens Junior 14 quad sculls crew of Hannah and Jessica Myers, Nicky Reed and Alice Jackson, with coach Tina Robertson as cox, which guaranteed their runners-up position in the respective WEARA championship.

Other club crews reaching finals but unable to gain a podium finish were the:

Womens Senior C fours: Sarah-Jane Lee, sister Jessica, Becca Jeffery and Vicky Bushby, with Sophie Pearce as cox; Mens Veteran fours: Colin Pennington, Nigel Cann and Neil Pennington, again coxed by Chris Daniel, with the inclusion of Glen Wilkins from the Reds; Mixed Senior C fours: Becka Jeffery, Adam Kelly, Nick Blight and Sarah-Jane Lee, with Sophie Pearce again as cox; Also: Novice single sculler Adam Bright.

Torbay Royal Regatta – Saturday 23rd August 2008

After the cancellation of Paignton Regatta last week, due to adverse weather conditions, we travelled to Torbay this weekend for the Torbay Royal Regatta, held of Hollacombe Beach , to far better rowing conditions.

Unfortunately, we only had three crews competing – the Ladies Senior C four, the Ladies Junior Under 14 quadruple sculls and a Ladies Junior Under 14 double scull. But that did not stop us providing two winners.

First was the Junior 14 quad scull of Hannah and Jessica Myers, Nicky Reed and Alison Jackson, with Tina Robertson as cox. Then Jessica and Alice combined to take the Junior Under 14 double sculls event. The Ladies Senior C four of Sarah-Jane Lee, sister Jessica, Becca Jeffery and Vicky Bushby, with Chris Daniel as cox, missed out in a very good race in the most contested event of the day when seven boats lined up at the start.

Exeter Regatta - Saturday 2nd August 2008

This week’s Regatta was one tinged with sadness after the tragic death, on Friday, of the West of England Amateur Rowing Association’s President, Derek Rickard of Plymouth , in a boating accident on the River Plym. In a packed programme of over 100 events with heats and finals it was not a very successful weekend for the club with only three podium finishes.

The Mens Veteran fours crew Colin Pennington, Nigel Cann and Neil Pennington, coxed by Chris Daniel, with the inclusion of Glen Wilkins from the Reds, deputising for the unavailable Dave Byrnes, were the club’s only winners defeating an experienced Dart-Totnes crew in the final by a canvas. The Mixed Senior C four of Becka Jeffery, Adam Kelly, Adam Bright and Vicki Bushby, with Sophie Pearce coxswaining, came a close second to a more experienced crew from Dartmouth .

Appledore & Instow Regatta – Sunday 27th July 2008

What a difference a week makes!!

After last weekend’s cold and wet regatta at Stithians Lake , Sunday’s regatta at Appledore & Instow could not have been more contrasting. Sunshine, blue skies, flat water and very warm!!

And Adam Bright, who last week suffered a touch of hypothermia, really revelled in the ideal conditions. He gained his first ever win in the Mens Novice single sculls defeating two local rivals from the Reds in the final. He then crewed up with Tom Carlyon, Tom Pugsley and Chris Glover, with Tina Robertson as cox, to gain a very commendable second place against current championship leaders Paignton, pushing them all the way and giving them a real fright in the process, with both these crews leaving the others in the race in their wake.

A first place finish was also recorded by the Mens Veteran four of Colin Pennington, Dave Byrnes, Nigel Cann and Neil Pennington, with Sophie Pearce as cox, masquerading as a Mens Senior A four on the day to ensure that they had a race as there was no Veteran opposition for them, defeating a younger Dartmouth crew in a very tight race after coming behind to beat them.

The Mens Senior B four of Nick Blight, Adam Kelly, Matt Colwill and Andrew Wilson, with Michelle Lewis as cox, gained their first championship point of the season when they came third in their event.

The Ladies Senior C four of Sarah-Jane Lee, sister Jessica, Becka Jeffery and Vicky Bushby, with Sophie again as cox, gained two more points in their championship when they secured second place in their race.

The same crew with Kelly Pearce replacing Sarah-Jane took to the water for the Ladies Under 18 fours race but, unfortunately, half-way down the course one of the girls was taken ill so they were unable to finish.

Greenbank Falmouth Regatta, Saturday 20th July 2008

What should have been the fifth West of England ARA regatta of the season, hosted by Greenbank Falmouth Rowing Club at Stithians Lake , situated between Falmouth and Redruth in Cornwall was, in fact, the fourth as Exeter Regatta the previous weekend was postponed because there was too much water running down the course!!

That regatta, Exeter , has now been re-arranged for Saturday 2nd August. So to last weekend’s event at Stithians.

It was nearly a case of that being cancelled as well, as a strong wind blowing across the course made it very difficult for all crews and scullers with several shipping inches of water.

So, because of that, the organising committee shortened the course for the Junior events.

Because of holidays and illness the club were only able to send the Womens Under 14 coxed quadruple sculls crew of Holly Lake - in her first ever regatta - Alice Jackson, twin sisters Jessica and Hannah Myers with coach Tina Robertson as cox, and Novice single sculler Adam Bright.

The girls made a fantastic job of ploughing through the conditions to take their first
first-place finish of the season in their event.

They then went their separate ways in the Womens Junior 14 double sculls where Alice and Hannah took first place with Jessica and Holly coming in second. Not so fortunate was Adam.

Although battling through the conditions, on the full course, in his heat to qualify for the final of his event, he took in so much water and got so wet and cold that he suffered a touch of hyperthermia and was unable to go out for his final. This coming weekend we are closer to home with the Appledore & Instow Regatta being held on Sunday.

Let’s hope for better weather!!

Dart-Totnes Regatta - Saturday 28th June 2008

Wimbleball Regatta - Saturday 21st June 2008

So to the second of this season’s West of England regattas held on Exmoor .

No Johnny Kingdom to welcome everyone, no prowling “beast” - just the long distance of flat water which is Wimbleball Lake . Fortunately the weather was not as bad as had been forecast and it stayed dry, thankfully. The wide open spaces there do not afford much shelter from the elements.

To the rowing.

As at Plymouth last week, Dave Byrnes gained first place in the Mens Veteran single scull after securing a third place in the “younger” Novice event earlier in the day.

Again, as last week, he then joined forces with brothers Colin and Neil Pennington and Nigel Cann, with Chris Daniel cox, to compete in the Mens Veteran fours event. This time though, because of handicapping, they had to give away a 20 second start to a very good Dart-Totnes crew, and the time gap proved to be just a little bit too much and they had to settle for a close second place finish, but ahead of third placed Wimbleball.

The Womens J14 quad sculls crew of Alice Jackson, twin sisters Jessica and Hannah Myers and Nicky Reed, with Chris Daniel cox, secured another second placed finish in that event as they did last week.

The four girls then went their separate ways to compete in the Womens Junior 14 double sculls where Alice and Jessica, again, took first place and Hannah and Nicky came third.

The only other crew competing on the day, because of absences in the other mens crews, was the Womens Senior C four of Vicky Bushby, Becka Jeffery, and sisters Jessica and Sarah-Jane Lee, with Sophie Pearce as cox, who just failed to secure the podium finish they had last week.

Plymouth Regatta – Saturday 14th June 2008 .

The first regatta of the new West of England Amateur Rowing Association season, hosted by Plymouth A.R.C., took place on the River Plym in conditions just about ideal for all competitors.

First on the water on the day for the club was Dave Byrnes competing in the Mens Veteran single sculls, who obviously loved the conditions, because he romped to a comprehensive win over the other three scullers in his race. Then later in the day Dave teamed up with Neil Pennington, Nigel Cann and Colin Pennington, with Chris Daniel as coxswain, to also win the Mens Veteran fours event defeating a strong Dartmouth crew.

The club’s other winners were Grenville College students, whose members now row under the banner of the “Blues” on the West of England circuit, Jessica Myers and Alice Jackson in the Womens Junior 14 double sculls event.

They also joined forces with fellow students Nicky Reed and Hannah Myers to take a creditable second place in the Womens J14 quad Sculls. Nicky and Hannah were also placed third in the Womens Junior 14 double scull.

Not to be outdone the College men students of Tom Pogsley, Thomas Carlyon, Christopher Glover and Tom Loka, took second places in both the Mens J18 fours and the Mens Novice fours events with their coach Tina Robertson coxswaining one race and Womens Junior 16 sculler, Bethan Waters who came third in her event, coxswaining the other.

The other third placed crew were the Womens Senior C four of Sarah Lee, Jessica Lee, Becka Jeffery and Vicki Bushby, with Sophie Pearce as cox.  

After days of rain, everyone packed for a wet day for the short-sprint regatta on the River Exe at Exeter on Saturday for the fourth of this season’s West of England ARA regattas.

But wet-weather gear was not required as a dry, hot day ensured ideal conditions for racing.  

In a tough day of racing with 96 events of heats and finals it was going to be a long day, and this time the younger rowers put the older, more senior rowers in the shade.  

Pictured here are the winning Ladies Junior 18 crew with their trophies.

Left to right: Hayley Wilson, Sophie Pearce (cox), Rebecca Jeffery, Vicki Bushby and Jessica Lee.