Caradon- Club Record on First Race of the Season

Caradon 3 Rivers Race is the gig rowing event that kick starts the season, with a grueling six mile course that tests endurance and takes place on the River Tamar near Plymouth. Clevedon took their A and B crews to compete in the race which is started in heats of fifteen boats. The course consists of long stretches of water in a figure of eight shape with two buoy turns at each end.

Ladies A were the first of the Clevedon crews to head out. A strong racing start saw them push out at the front of the pack but with other top crews chasing them down it soon became busy at the first buoy turn. Undeterred, they kept calm, having faith that the training would pay off and that they would make up time and distance throughout the race. This soon happened and they overtook boat after boat, until they were 4th in their heat by the last buoy! The fighting spirit did not stop here and they held strong all the way to the end, taking another two boats before the finish line to come in 2nd in their heat and 11th out of 73 in the overall women’s race, with a time of 58:32! A great achievement for Clevedon to be up there amongst the top gig clubs.

Ladies B also had a good race, rowing with the tide on the first leg of the race, but against it for the big stretch back down the course to the 3rd buoy. They held good shape and rowed strong completing the course in 1:04:55 and 43rd overall.

A swift changeover on the side of the Tamar brought the men to the fore. The conditions had changed and the men faced an outgoing tide which meant a tough first third of the race, an easier middle, but a sprint to the line at the end against rushing water.

Clevedon’s Men’s A were first to race and held fourth place round the first two turns before a two-boat battle emerged with Teignmouth challenging Clevedon down the two mile straight part of the course. Teignmouth’s experience eventually showed as they pushed past and into fourth place. Clevedon held fifth despite challenges from Appledore and Helford crews on the final sprint to the line. Men’s A finished in a time of 57:59 and 41st overall.

Men’s B were in the same race, but a later heat and they faced similarly harsh conditions. Ultimately they finished in 1:02:50 and 68th overall.

Overall this was a strong showing from Clevedon and whilst all crews rowed hard and gave their all, it was the Ladies A crew who stole the show. With the World Championships on the Isles of Scilly only eight weeks away, the signs are promising for the blue army of Clevedon Pilot Gig Club.