Exmouth Rowing Club

Rounding the stone was the aim for Exmouth Rowing club when they launched the inaugural event of the Ore Stone Challenge. The event took competitors in offshore rowing boats on a 23-mile course from Exmouth Beach, and around the Ore Stone situated on the approaches to Torbay. The event is intended for both competitive, and fun rowers. Being a new venture for the club, the 2011 event was invitational only as part of the planning and preparation to move onto a full open event in 2012. Five boats were launched that included rowers from Plymouth, Torquay and Exmouth. The weather offered an overcast sky giving competitors a cool but pleasant atmosphere to compete in. The still wind presented flat calm waters, not necessarily preferred by offshore rowers, but it produced very fast times. The event was launched on the last hour of an outgoing tide, and to the fairway buoy the fleet remained within reasonably close contact. Venturing out into open sea a pattern quickly developed, with two boats taking the lead, followed by a second group of two, and the fifth boat bringing up the rear. The two leading boats from Torquay and Exmouth were quite clearly engaged in a race from an early stage, closely pacing each other from the off. Rounding the stone, the Exmouth crew navigated a tighter course, establishing a lead that they expanded upon and maintained to the finish. The winning men’s crew of Exmouth included Ed Pearce, Charlie Angell, Jack Davey, Chris Long, and Cox Brian O’Dea who crossed the line in 3.14.52, with Torquay only 2 minutes behind. The best ladies crew also from Exmouth included Ali Giles, Rachel Tarr, Ali Martineau, Anna Childs, and Cox Mike Drew who crossed the line in 3.26.47. The ladies crew combined the row with a fundraising effort for Lympstone & Exmouth Hospice Care, and Exmouth Rowing Clubs safety boat appeal. They raised £700. They, and the club thank all those who sponsored them. Overall the event was a success, and the organisers would also like to thank Exmouth Cricket Club for assisting with trailer parking, and bar facilities. Mark Martineau, Hedley Saunders, and Tom Hurley for safety cover. Tom of Devon Digital also supplied photo cover of the event.

Other Times

Torquay           Chris Akers. Jamie Dawe. Maurice Dunn. Ian Wilson.

                        (Cox) Katie Cudmore.                                                            3.16.32.

Plymouth         Jeff Hammond. Jonathan Whittaker. Bob Bradbury. Pete Gough.

                        (Cox) Fiona Carmicheal.                                             3.24.40.

Exmouth Vet  Lin Hurley. Graham Hurley. Dave McDermot. Alex Butler.

                        Lewis Tucker. (Shared Coxing)                                  4.18.46.