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Plymouth Tamar Challenge
A double header bought the strangest, but most wonderful result for Exmouth Rowing Club on Saturday 16th August.
Prior to the date the club had a number of entries for fine water boat rowing in the West of England Armature Rowing Championship at Paignton, and a Senior Men’s crew entered into the Eddystone Endurance Challenge offshore event at Plymouth.
But the day arrived and the weather once again chose to play its full part, hitting the region with high winds and more rain.
The Paignton event was cancelled, so the Exmouth participants resigned themselves to watching Olympic Rowing on TV, little did some of them know that the day was yet to bring them a great victory.
Due to gale force winds the Eddystone, being a 28-mile open ocean event was also cancelled, and replaced by the reserve event, Tamar Challenge. Exmouth’s senior crew chose not to participate but after some phone calling a crew came together to take it on.
The Tamar Challenge involves a 20mile row across Plymouth Sound and the full navigable length of the Tamar River, through Devonport, Torepoint, beyond Saltash, and return. Although a river it is fully exposed to the elements and strong tidal flows creating water conditions comparable to the open sea, but making the event easier to control from a safety point of view.
The Exmouth Crew consisted of Sam Malloy, Chris Long, Jack Pearce, and Charlie Angel, all of whom had been cancelled from Paignton, the cox was Les Norcliffe. The crew was equipped with a Yole 35 sponsored by Devon Signs of Exmouth. The crew arrived at the start line as the horn sounded and they set off on their 20-mile voyage. From the start they were flanked on each side by a collection of pilot gigs, most of which were left behind within the first ¼ mile. Of the remaining gigs, one to the starboard side became troublesome in that although it was matching Exmouth for pace the heavy water conditions repeatedly threw it into the path of the Exmouth boat. Action was needed, and at the call of the cox, the crew responded leaving it in its wake. The course was now clear, with only the one remaining pilot gig of Bristol Youth in front. On leaving Plymouth sound and going into the river the manoeuvrability of the Exmouth boat came into its own, and the two boats soon came level. Approaching Devonport the boats were side, by side, the Exmouth boat being on the shore side. It felt as though the competition were trying to squeeze Exmouth into shore depriving them of open water, so the decision was made to take drastic action. The entire crew burst into song, (Whitney Huston) ‘I will always love you’ and with a little more pressure the boat pulled ahead, past Devonports King Harry. It remains unknown whether it was the extra pressure, or awful singing that made the Bristol crew fall behind, but the never again took the lead.
Throughout the remainder of the course the Bristol boat continued to shadow staying within a ten and three boat lengths, but the heart and power that existed within the Exmouth boat always ensured they stayed ahead. The closest challenge came within the last ¼ mile but Exmouth refused to buckle securing victory by being the first boat home and taking the Challenge Cup.
After the event a wonderful social spirit was experienced by all participants, due to the first class organisation of Plymouth Mayflower Offshore Rowing Club. Bristol crewmembers were heard to comment on the awful singing abilities of the Exmouth crew, but were the first to applaud its rowing abilities, such is the bond of offshore rowers.
The crew is the product of Exmouth youth of which the town should be rightfully proud. They have been with the rowing club for several years. They and all the membership are always happy to welcome and help anyone interested in the club on Sunday mornings 10am onwards, at its premises behind the sea front lifeboat station.
Photograph is provided courtesy of Exmouth based photographer Tom Hurley (Devondigital) who officially covered the event. He was heard to say that these were the worst conditions he had worked in. Further images are available via www.devondigital.co.uk/mayflower”
