For several years Sidmouth Gig Club has entered teams in the Sidmouth Swimathon, which this year is being held on Saturday (October 6), writes Nick Thompson.

Sidmouth Herald: SidmouthGig Club ladies beside their boat before the 11-mile row.SidmouthGig Club ladies beside their boat before the 11-mile row. (Image: Archant)

However, this year the date clashes with the Head of the River race at Helford in Cornwall, so a group of gig club ladies decided they’d make their own contribution a week early, and it would be an epic row rather than swimming.

The final Sunday of September saw seven ladies make a 9am start from Sidmouth beach to row five-and-a-half miles to Budleigh Salterton in their newest boat, Little Picket.

On arrival, they took a brief rest and then rowed another five-and-a-half miles back – eleven miles of rowing in three hours! That’s quite an achievement, and also good training for the Helford race, which is a mere seven miles.

Other members of the club, including some of our youth rowers, will be swimming in the Swimathon on Saturday. We’ve set a target of collecting £1,000, and still have a way to go. If you’d like to support us, please go to our website or Facebook page for details.

Sidmouth Herald: Sidmouth Gig Club ladies on their 11-mile row.Sidmouth Gig Club ladies on their 11-mile row. (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Gig Club welcomes new members for both social and competitive rowing, no previous experience is necessary.

Please contact the secretary, Stephen Gray, at sidmouthgigclub@gmail.com or search ‘Sidmouth Gig Club’ if you would like to find out more or try a taster row.