The ladies of Dart Gig Club made the two-and-a-half hour journey to Ilfracombe last Saturday to take part in a friendly event.

Dart was the only club representing south Devon and this was the club's first visit to this attractive north Devon resort and was well worth the trouble.

The other clubs competing were Ilfracombe, Torridge, Lyme Regis, Bridport, Swanage, Barnstaple, Bideford, Clevedon and Appledore.  

The boats took off from the small town beach with the start line being just outside the harbour wall.

The course, with the usual three buoy turns, had been shortened due to strong winds out to sea and the choppy conditions were testing during the day, particularly during the first race.

The novice rowers, Chloe, Karen and Bonnie, had not raced in such demanding conditions before and acquitted themselves well. 

The ladies A, Peta Chivers, Clare Thorp, Jo Haydn, Maggie Trubshaw, Chloe Gardner, Paula Hine, took to the water in Lightning for the first race of the day.

They positioned themselves on the outside next to Ifracombe, guessing rightly that the home club would know where the good water was, and pulled away from the pack on the first leg to arrive at the mark in second place. Cox Paul Kunert steered the crew skilfully round the buoy unimpeded by other boats.

Dart then rowed strongly for the rest of the race consolidating a well earned second position to finish behind the host club. 

The third race of the day was the ladies B with Mary Eames, Karen Gardner, Paula Hine, Jo Haydn, Bonnie Chivers and Chloe Gardner representing Dart.

The start was delayed and the start line cleared while the lifeboat was called out on a shout. When the race finally got under way the girls pulled away strongly and arrived in fourth position at the first mark. Torridge was given water over Dart but took forever to turn and came into the side of Lightning, allowing Clevedon and Torridge to get past. 

Dart were not having this and rowed strongly to make up the lost ground and passed these two boats before the next mark.

They now found themselves in third place with Lyme Regis a few lengths ahead and tiring. The girls dug deep and pipped them right on the finish line to take a fantastic second place behind Ilfracombe.  

The final race for Dart was the ladies vets. Eight gigs were on the start line with Ilfracombe quickly leading the pack as they had done all afternoon.

Lyme Regis and Dart competed for the first mark, a battle which Lyme won which put Dart in the third place.

They chased hard round the rest of the course and were unable to make up the lost ground but finished a commendable third behind Lyme and Ilfracombe.

Thank you to Paul Kunert for coxing all three races. Dart race at Mevagissey this weekend and hope to be represented by both men and ladies.