RTRC Race report

The River Teign Rowing Club Seine Boat Series has seen a packed July with

races on three successive weekends, adding assorted twists, and some

clarification, on the way towards the conclusion of the season. The previous

Sunday saw the insertion of a race postponed from mid June, with a course

set from transits off the end of the pier, a race out to sea, with a clockwise

turn around three buoys, and a finish in the river by the back beach. The men

raced first with the wind making conditions a little choppy as they began the

long haul out to the buoys. The ebbing tide meant that the coxes had to make

a decision on which side of the river to come in on, taking a gamble that they

had made the right decision. There were surprise winners, as ClinkOars in

“Hawk” gained their first victory of the season after some excellent coxing

approaching the river, followed by PowerAnchors in “Eileen”, who improved

on their best ever previous result of third from earlier in the season with the

runner up spot. SAS in “Mrs B” took third to edge ever closer to becoming this

years’ men’s champions.

The women rowed next with the tide coming out more forcefully than for the

men, and with the wind picking up too, making a challenge for the crews as

they jostled for position. After an excellent start on the line, the teams headed

out to sea, with both top crews setting a blistering pace, leaving the pack

behind. G Foarce in “Merlin” took the honours from Abs Fab in “Eve C”, with

Blister Sisters in “Egret” returning to early season form with an excellent third

place finish, their second of the series. Many teams used this race to record

their season’s best, including Lazy Jacks in “Hawk”, and Tasty Moarsels in

“Sarah”. In the junior races, the contested boys under 14 section saw Teign

Buoys in “Viscount Amery II” wrest control of their section with victory over

Teign Tearaways in “Hawk”.

Thanks to the London Inn in Shaldon for excellent Sunday afternoon post race

hospitality.

Last weekend saw a reverse course for the seniors from the previous Sunday

with the same start, a slightly shorter course ( approximately half an hour of

exertion), and anti clock wise turns around three buoys at sea. To avoid boats

being caught in the ebbing tide, another buoy was placed in the river mouth,

in the Shaldon Pool, so that crews had less of a sharp turn as they enterted

the river. A straight forward one – two, saw G Foarce once again take the

honours from Abs Fab. The crew in “Merlin” now look odds on for their first

title together, from the current champions in “Eve C”. FEA followed in third

place in “Kalusari”, while Tasty Moarsels, in “Sarah” saw their season improve

with an impressive sixth place. In the Plate Race category (for teams in the

lower half of the league), Up Y’Oars took “Sweet Chariot” from third to first

place after their thirteenth place in the main race.

After the surprise results from Race 6, it was business as usual for the men,

as SAS returned to winning ways in “Mrs B” followed by Mannor garage men

in “Merlin”, with C’oar Blimey coming in third, rowing “Eclipse”. These three

crews hold the top three positions in the table at the moment. Aladdin Seine

achieved their best ever result with their twelfth placed finish in “Sooty” taking

them to the top of the leaderboard for the men’s plate race. Stretcher

Breakers remain in second place for the plate, three points behind, and after

some excellent coxing on the point, Must be Inseine in “Rene Arnot” achieved

their best result of the season, and a move up the table in the Plate.

Teign Buoys edged ahead of Teign Tearaways in the boys under 14 category,

crossing the line first overall, with their closest rivals second. Both were

followed by the boys under 12 team, Crazy Crew in “Mavis”.

Again, a big thank you to the Blue Anchor in Teignmouth for a great post race

evening.

Next Saturday sees the World Seine Boat Championships being held jointly

with the Teign Corinthian Yacht Club, at the Eastcliff end of the main beach,

with River Teign Rowing Club hosting the Teign Gig Regatta the following day

at the same venue. Both events are excellent spectacles, so come along and

watch and show your support.

For information on all River Teign Rowing Club activities, visit our website at

www.teignrowers.co.uk