Sidmouth Gig Club rowers took part in the Bridport Regatta on Saturday in their gig Keith Owen.

The racing took place on a glorious sunny day with a Mediterranean-like flat calm sea. The Sidmouth rowers set up camp on West Bay Pier wall alongside the other clubs participating in the event.

In the spirit of gig racing, when clubs are short on numbers of rowers to make up matching crews, other clubs lend their rowers to make up teams to race.

Mike Perrington was the first Sidmouth rower on the water. He saved the day for Bristol who were a rower short and made up crew numbers for their men’s B crew and they rowed a fast and furious race coming in fourth in their race.

Prior to this, the Bristol A crew had rowed a splendid race; the first gig over the line in 15 minutes seven seconds which set the time for the rest of the races for the day.

Sidmouth enabled four ladies from Torridge to participate in the ladies’ B race rowing in Keith Owen, coxed by Jeremy Cloke and with one Sidmouth rower, Carrie Farquhar, who had a very exciting finish and came in fourth.

Sidmouth rowed in both the Men’s and Ladies Vets races where they stayed with the main pack in both races fighting hard all of the way.

The final race saw a mixed crew from Sidmouth out on the water and, in a very closely fought race, came fifth, which represented a fantastic achievement!

The day ended with everyone having made a huge effort at a great regatta which bodes well for when Sidmouth stage their regatta on September 22.

Anybody interested in gig rowing, the club has open rowing nights on Fridays evenings, commencing at 5.45pm at the Port Royal.

There are more details on all things Sidmouth gig racing at www.sidmouthgigclub.com