Thanks to GigRower StreamTeam Commentator, Ben Banks, for this round up of the 2025 Super Vets Championships hosted by Swanage Sea Rowing Club on Saturday 7th June 2025.
After a week of weather watching, the strong Westerlies abated sufficiently for the message to go out on Friday that the Swanage Super Vet Championships 2025 would go ahead. The skies were grey and clouds threatening but crews, coxes and volunteers were all in good spirits and looking forward to a good day’s racing.
29 Women’s crews and 23 Open crews attended, and 7 different counties were represented at the event. The event’s format provided 3 heats in both the Women’s and Open first round. Race times were then used to place crews into Plate, Shield and Cup finals for the afternoon.
In the first round of the Women’s competition, the heats were won by River Fowey A, River Teign A and Mounts Bay A who all had comfortable leads but the racing behind them was close and exciting.
Photo credit: Mark Gilronan
In the first round of the Open competition, Heat 1 saw a close battle with Dart A just holding off a determined Falmouth A to take the win. Both crews looked to be strong contenders for the Open Cup Final. As the wind strength picked up, Heat 2 saw a dominant display by Caradon A and Heat 3 was won by the Caradon B crew pushed hard by Appledore A.
Photo credit: Mark Gilronan
The first of the Finals was the Women’s Plate. This was won by Lyme Regis B, very closely followed by both Weymouth and Langstone B, with close racing throughout the fleet in a tightly bunched race. The Women’s Shield Final saw Fowey B crew pull clear into the first mark, with some clashing behind them swapping the order of the following boats. Boscastle and Crackington A crew put up the strongest challenge to Fowey B but the crew in Troy led from start to finish to take a well deserved Shield final win.
Photo credit: Mark Gilronan
The race order was set so that the Women’s and Open Cup finals would be the last races of the day, so it was back to the Open category for the next two races.
The Open Plate Final was a strong win from Weymouth A who held clear of a good battle between Mevagissey and Barnstaple. The tightest racing was between the last three boats across the line. Langstone, Bridport and Lewes crews enjoying a thrilling battle which concluded in a photo finish.
For the Open Shield Final, the home crew of Swanage laid down their clipboards, BBQ tongs and hi-biz jackets to take a popular win which saw them pass lead boat Portishead A on the second leg. A tight pack led to a few mishaps further back down the field which led to some exciting battles and come backs.
Photo credit: Mark Gilronan
Photo credit: Mark Gilronan
The rain materialised for the Women’s Cup Final with the fastest boats of the day lining up from Swanage’s banjo pier. Teign A set a season target to win Appledore Super Vets, WPGC Super Vets and the CPGA Super Vets Championships but knew that they were up against some quality crews. The quality of the rowing proved exceptional amongst the top crews with Teign A holding off a determined Fowey A and Mounts Bay A. These top three crews pulled themselves a good distance ahead of the other crews in the race. Teign A were elated to win and were glad to have been pushed hard by the other crews.
Photo credit: Mark Gilronan
While the Women’s crews celebrated, the participants of the Open Cup final braved the worsening wind and rain to line up for the last race of the day. Reigning WPGC Super Vet Champions, Caradon A were tipped to win and much like Teign women, they made good on their ‘favourite’ status and converted a good lead on the first leg into a strong win. Behind them a battle emerged between the second Caradon crew in Ann Glanville, Dart A and Falmouth A. Dart A held off a strong challenge from Caradon B through to the finish with Falmouth A finishing just behind them in 4th.
Photo credit: Mark Gilronan
Swanage Sea Rowing Club hosted a fantastic event which showcased the high calibre of rowing from the participating clubs, both established and new. Portreath A had three newer rowers who experienced their first event as well as a late substitution who left from St Just at 4.30am to make sure the rest of the crew got on the water! All credit to the rowers and coaches of Portreath. They looked very together and enjoyed some great racing.
Not only did Teign celebrate becoming Women’s Super Vet Champions and doing the treble but two of the crew also celebrated their birthdays that evening. In the Open, watching Caradon A was very special. The strength, experience and discipline of Caradon should never be overlooked and it was great to witness their performance.
As the presentations were made and the last of the gigs were being loaded onto trailers the heavens opened but nobody cared. Many of the day’s rowers were staying in Swanage for the next day’s all-comers regatta. Tales of overlaps, amazing starts, hero coxes and Herculean 10s filled the bars and restaurants of Swanage.
Being able to commentate on the sport I love for the Stream Team is a great honour. The coverage involves a lot more than someone with a microphone, a camera and a drone. There are also photographers, researchers, graphics production, switchers/directors, runners and a lot of technology. Some of those involved have a lot of knowledge and experience but other positions need little knowledge or experience but are still really important. If it is something that you would like to get involved with or you have relevant experience of, it would be great to have you on board.
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