An amazing band of nine ladies organised a great gig regatta at Paignton last Saturday.

There was a change of race order this year, with the men’s B away first.

The crew had a strong start and the first half a dozen boats stayed in a line until half way up the first leg, when the leading four boats started to pull away.

As the first mark approached it became evident that the Dart crew would have to ease back to allow the first four boats to pass ahead of them.

This unfortunately gave Teign, just behind Dart, chance to catch up. Dart fought hard to keep the Teign crew behind them all the way to the finish, but unfortunately Dart were just pipped at the post.

Nevertheless, the crew were pleased with their seventh place.

The ladies’ B race followed. The ladies had a good first leg, with five boats arriving at the first mark together. Dart managed to get a good line on the mark and managed to take Cattewater.

Dart fought hard to keep ahead of Catte­water, but Brixham powered slowly past the Dart crew at which stage the crews clashed oars. Brixham managed to keep the edge, taking second place behind Teign. Dart came in a creditable third out of 13 boats.

The men’s vets race saw the crew which won at Rame three weeks ago aiming for another win. The crew had a great start and soon had their noses in front. They battled with the Cattewater crew (who had already declared that they were not a full vets crew) to the first mark, and rounded in first place.

Dave Sha­ram, rowing in the bow for the first time this year, used his experience to toss the oar on both the first and second marks.

This manoeuvre enables the boat to turn the mark more sharply. The crew continued to race Cattewater to the finish and they were delighted to cross the line in first place.

The ladies’ vets race saw Dart putting out two crews, one in Smudger and one in Verbena (kindly loaned by Appledore).

The crew rowing in Smudger had a tricky first leg with Dagger (from Bridport) coming in on the Dart crew again and again. Dart gained the water on the first mark.

The Paign­ton crew pushed Dart all the way to the finish, but Dart maintained their place to come home second behind Teign.

The second crew in Verbena was kindly stroked by Bev Worth­ington of Brixham.

They found their rhythm, battling with both Brixham and Lyme Regis, to keep their place and come home in a pleasing fifth place.

A break for the junior races saw Smudger loaned to the Fowey juniors – with both their under 16s and their under 14s winning their races.

The men’s A had another good start and pushed ahead with the leading boats, so that by the first mark they were in the lead.

The final leg saw the real effort needed to maintain a leading position.

The crew fought hard all the way to the line, pushed by Catte­water and a young Bridport crew who seemed to come out of nowhere. The crew were delighted to win the race.

The ladies’ A was the the next race. Coming up to the first mark they were in third place behind Teign and Cattewater. A smart turn on the mark saw Dart row clear inside Cattewater. The crew then maintained their second position to the finish.

The final race of the day for the club, was the mixed race – entered as a fun race, with Peta Chivers, Ali Bland, Katie Lillington, Stan Bray, Rupert Kempley and Richard Bland taking the oars.

Men’s squad

Paul Kunert, Chris Gale, Michael Bryant Mole, Stan Bray, Mick Jones, Rupert Kempley, Adrian Bailey, Tony Doidge, Lea Humph­reys, Dave Sharam.

Ladies squad

Clare Thorp, Peta Chivers, Chloe Gard­ner, Ella Chivers, Carol Squire, Ali Bland, Kath­arine Money, Karen Harvey, Kate Cooke, Paula Hine, Wendy Jones, Emma Burnell, Katie Lillington.

Coxes

Paul Kunert, Clare Thorp, Richard Bland