Clevedon Pilot Gig Club hosted its 2024 regatta earlier this month, drawing a bustling crowd with crews and spectators from Somerset and Bristol despite challenging conditions.
On the blustery late morning of October 12th, boats arrived and were soon in the water, with racing commencing at noon—a pleasantly reasonable time for a change!
Photo credit: Adrian Venner
Numerous local teams, including those from Bristol, Portishead, Porlock Weir, Burnham-On-Sea, and Weston-super-Mare, showed up in full force, all vying for bragging rights.
Clevedon is known for its great but often challenging sea conditions. This time, the rowers faced a headwind as they made their way out to the first buoy, but they handled it with resilience. After completing the kite-shaped course, which starts and finishes in front of the iconic Clevedon Pier, all participants earned their well-deserved cake and coffee.
Porlock Weir kicked off the morning’s racing with a hard-fought victory in the Men’s A category, while Clevedon matched their efforts with a strong showing from their Women’s A crew.
In the end, Clevedon emerged as the overall regatta winners, with Porlock Weir close behind in second place. Bristol secured the final podium spot, achieving consistently strong scores across all races to finish above Portishead in fourth.
Unfortunately, worsening sea conditions prevented the last races from being held. However, Adrian Venner from Clevedon Pilot Gig Club reflected on the day’s events, stating, “Spirits remained high as trophies were presented and ice creams were enjoyed.”
The successful and competitive regatta showcased the thriving spirit of rowing, enjoyed by clubs throughout Somerset and Bristol.
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