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Plymouth Regatta 2008
Plymouth Rowing club this year hosted the first of the West Of England Armature Rowing Championships, and simply could not have picked a better day. The weather was very kind to the event, remaining dry and calm with a light breeze to cool both competitors and spectators alike. It was well supported creating a carnival atmosphere on the bank side, with spectators being well catered for from the clubhouse. The venue will also be the site for the 2008 South Coast Championships to be held in September.
The events were held on the river Plym throughout the day giving participants the opportunity to row both with and against the tidal flow. The coxed four events were held over a 1650meters, with the single sculls and junior events over 1000meters.
Clubs attended from all over the region including Plymouth, Grenville College Paignton, Dartmouth, Totnes, Exeter, and Bideford. A small but very competitive squad of rowers including Mike Drew, Rob Williams, Sam Malloy, Jack Pearce, Ed Pearce, Chris Long, Charlie Angel, and newcomer Lorris Haywood represented Exmouth. This small squad was about to reap the rewards of their winter training, and in doing so, once again represented the town to a very high standard.
The clubs first victory came to Williams, participating in the Men’s Novice Single Sculls, he took a convincing lead and was a clear winner. This result promotes him to the Senior C category where he will find the rest of the season more challenging. Long also competed in the event coming 3rd. Continuing with the single sculls, Drew secured 4th place in the Veterans Event, Ed Pearce qualified for the final of the Junior 16 event but could not participate due to coxing duties. In the Junior 18 event Jack Pearce was 2nd with Long securing 3rd. Another 3rd came to Malloy in the Senior C event.
Ever looking for competition a new crew was put together for the day, to compete in the Junior 18 Coxed Fours. This involved both the Pearce brothers, with Angel, Haywood, and Malloy coxing. They set a staggering pace leading the field comfortably to the last 250meters when unfortunately one made a slight mistake and the crew came in 3rd. Clearly a great combination for the future.
Exmouth were demanding more victory, and it was to come from the experienced crew of Malloy, Long, Williams, Pearce, and Ed Pearce coxing. From the start it was a neck and neck event between Paignton and Exmouth, but with our lads always showing the upper hand and powering their way to victory. They are now but one victory away from promotion to Senior B, so they then went on to row in this higher category on the day. Having rowed half the course the event was re-started due to a collision between Plymouth and Bideford. On the re-run Exmouth competed strongly securing an excellent 2nd place. Watch out South West Senior B, Exmouth are coming!
More victory was to come from the double scullers. The combination of Pearce and Angel took first in the Junior 18 class. The same pairing also took victory from Williams and Long when competing in the Novice event.
This was a good opening event for Exmouth Rowing Club that highlighted the squad’s strengths, and highlighted new promise for the future.
