A Picture Perfect Day In Paignton

The third round of the Senior Summer Series, hosted by Paignton Rowing Club, delivered an excellent day of rowing under near-perfect conditions.

With the sun shining brightly over the English Riviera, the atmosphere was charged with excitement, building on the buzz from the Masters Championships which took place on the previous day.

Brixham joined the other gigs lined up on the beach shortly after rowing over from their club just the other side of the bay. 

A parrot named Ruby joined the Stream Team, becoming an unexpected highlight for both rowers and spectators.

Anticipation was high as rowers prepared for the unique format of the competition, different to the other Senior Summer Series events, it featured three races, each progressively shorter in distance. This format tested both endurance and sprint capabilities, with fast changeovers between races adding an extra layer of difficulty. Nutrition and hydration became crucial as rowers had to quickly recover and refuel between intense races. 

After the seeding races, crews are split into heats based on the ranking. In the next round crews have the opportunity to move up or down a heat based on their finishing position. Points races 1 & 2 offered valuable points, making every stroke count. Rowers pushed themselves to their limits to secure their standings in this high-stakes event.

Natalie from Caradon Women’s A crew shared; “The Summer Series has given us something a bit different this year, it’s offered us some big competition and obviously with Newquay County Championships coming up it’s been a valuable addition to the season.” 

Once again, Caradon’s Women’s A crew dominated the day, winning the seeding race and both points races. However, their victories didn’t come easily, as their B crew provided tough competition, pushing them to the finish line in every round. Also leaving no stone unturned were Falmouth, who were also in contention for some silverware (or slate-wear…if you get our drift). Caradon A earned an impressive 200 points, solidifying their first-place standing at Mounts Bay, Mevagissey, and Paignton. The big question now is whether they can maintain their winning streak at the final event in Weymouth or if their B crew will turn the tables.

The rivalry between Caradon and Falmouth continued with Caradon A in Ann Glanville taking the lead in the seeding race, closely followed by Falmouth A in Black Rock. Falmouth played their strategy wisely, holding their cards close to their chest until the points races, where they claimed the maximum 200 points by winning both rounds 1 and 2. Meanwhile, a dramatic Caradon vs. Caradon duel for 2nd and 3rd place ensued, including a tense clash just before the finish line that nearly saw one rower loose their oar overboard.

With only 6 points between Falmouth A and Caradon A in the Open category, it’s still ALL to play for.

As the day drew to a close, it was clear that this event had not only tested the rowers’ physically but also heightened the anticipation for what promises to be a dramatic conclusion to the series which is set to be hosted by Weymouth Rowing Club on the 31st of August.