Bridport Gig Rowing Club played host to a weekend of gig rowing, held at West Bay.

A packed harbour saw the event get underway with the youth sections racing a slightly shorter course in a very challenging sea, which produced more white water as the afternoon progressed.

Bridport’s youth squad continued their good form this season, winning this event with Lyme making it across the line in fourth position behind Brixham and Barnstaple.

With the sea worsening slightly and the westerly’s still gradually increasing in strength, the ladies’ A category was next out and this proved to be a tougher race than was anticipated!

The Lyme girls certainly gave their all and did well to bag a most credit worthy seventh place finish.

Next out were the men’s A category crews and, with conditions unchanged, the teams set off fro the start line.

The Lyme crew, on board Black Ven, enjoyed a terrific battle with neighbours Bridport and South Devon-based Brixham. All three fought a hard race to determine their final positions at the finish line and it was Bridport who crossed first, followed by Lyme with Brixham having to settle for third spot.

and Brixham in 3rd place.

At this point in the afternoon, there was a pattern emerging as the points totals on the score sheet were revealing a battle at the top of the board between Weymouth, Lyme, Bridport and Swanage.

The ladies’ B category were next out and all the crews made an impressive start in waters that were starting to ease a little. Maintaining a healthy position in the front half of the pack, in the early stages, the Lyme girls rounded the final marker to head for home, finishing in seventh place.

The men’s B race was next and the teams were quickly out of then blocks on their way to the first marker. Brixham got their first with the Lyme crew in hot pursuit. Over the second half of the race Brixham pulled away to claim first place with Lyme second and Brixham taking third.

The ladies C race saw a terrific battle between well matched crews and it ended with Brixham winning and the Lyme crew coming in fifth.

Next out for Lyme were the men’s C crew and they kept pace with the Bridport and Weymouth gigs, but ultimately Bridport got home first with Lyme second and Weymouth third.

With only four races remaining, no single team had an outright lead and there was all to race for!

Next was the veteran section of the programme with the ladies out first. At the starters command, they were away to battle it out to try and improve their club’s final standing. At the finish line it was Weymouth from Swanage and Bridport across the line with Lyme coming in fifth.

The veteran men’s race was a close contest with Weymouth pipping Brixham and Lyme third with Swanage fourth.

The penultimate race was the men’s supervet’s category. The field for this being more spread out. Lyme were out of the blocks at a terrific pace, leading until the home straight when Weymouth crept past them to take first spot leaving Lyme second and Portland third.

The final race of a thrilling day was men’s/ladies’ mixed crew race and this saw Weymouth home first, Lyme second and Brixham third.

The overall standings for the day in terms of the team event saw Weymouth as winners with Lyme Regis valiant runners-up and Bridport and Brixham shared third spot.