Lyme Regis gig club rowers travelled down to Saltash to compete in the two-day Caradon Regatta meeting, one of the biggest annual events on the gig rowing calendar.

The Lyme crews excelled and served up some excellent results against some of the best clubs in the country.

The Saturday action began with the mixed crew races which see three men and three ladies in each boat.

The Lyme mixed crew, after just a single week of training, made it through to the semi-finals after a first and a third in the heats. That meant they made the last 15 out of 60 crews!

Next up the mixed super vets and they achieved a second place in heat one, but as the weather warmed up the stronger crews came to the fore and the Lyme crew did make it through to the semi-final from which they battled to a most creditable fourth place finish.

The first action on day two was the lady vets crew. Lyme finished in their heat, making it to the plate final where they finished fourth.

The Lyme ladies supervets looked strong as they won their first heat, going on to make the final finishing in a commendable sixth position. Once again a huge result against the best that gig rowing has to offer. Credit must go to Kerry Maguire, who represented the club in both ladies categories.

The men’s vets team were a man down so Nick Bale bravely stood in at the last minute, whilst also maintaining his seat with the super vets crew!

The team cruised into second place in heat one only to face a tough draw in the semi-final.

They battled at their absolute hardest in a close run race to the finish line to complete the course in very creditable third position behind Weymouth, just missing out on a place in the final.

Finally, it was the turn of the men’s supervets. With thousands of miles of rowing experience between them, they started out of the blocks to qualify in second in the first heat and so into the semi-final from where they eased their way into the final and there they managed a highly respectable fourth place.

All in all, it was Lymes most successful set of results at Saltash, and further demonstrates their progress as one of the best gig clubs outside of its Cornish heartland.

The club would like to thank Caradon Gig Rowing Club for hosting such a well organised event and those club members who towed and prepared the gig and to those who coxed the crews.