Thanks to Sarah of Bude Pilot Gig Club for this account of the latest fixture in this popular winter series.
After January’s Roadford Races fixture was cancelled due to poor weather, it was a welcome relief to be back on the water for February’s racing. The forecast kept everyone guessing in the lead-up, but conditions held and racing went ahead on Saturday 21st February as planned, with eleven clubs in attendance.
Volunteers from Bude Pilot Gig Club were on site from 7.30am to set up and welcome nine visiting clubs. This round featured a kite course rather than the usual straight line, introducing technical corners and giving spectators an excellent view of the action from the shoreline. The atmosphere reflected it – lively, noisy and full of anticipation.
The day opened with the Novice and Junior races. Verbena from Appledore took the Novice win, while Birlanda from Tamar & Tavy won the Juniors. Although the Novice race does not contribute to overall points, it remains a valuable opportunity for new rowers to gain race experience without the pressure of results.
Five crews lined up for the Women’s Masters and six for the Open Masters, a strong reminder that gig rowing truly is a sport for all ages. Verbena secured the Women’s Masters win, while Champ took first place in the Open Masters.
Racing intensified in the Super Vets categories. Valency from Boscastle & Crackington claimed victory in the Women’s Super Vets, and Tregeare from Bude powered home to win the Open Super Vets.
With the evenings beginning to stretch out, a mixed race was added to the programme. Although it did not count towards the final standings, Tregeare made a clear statement with a commanding first-place finish.
Valency took the Women’s B race, while Verbena won the Open B. The same two clubs went on to top the Women’s and Open Vets races respectively, demonstrating impressive consistency across categories.
In the A races, Tregeare delivered a decisive win in the Women’s A, and Verbena continued their strong form by taking the Open A.
At the end of the day, Bude topped the overall table, followed by Tamar & Tavy in second, with Boscastle & Crackington in third.
It was a fantastic day of competitive racing, fuelled as always by Bude’s legendary cake bakers and burger crew. A huge thank you goes to all the clubs who travelled to take part and helped make the event such a success.
David Brain of Tamar & Tavy said of the event, “Despite the forecast of strong winds and rain, huge credit to Bude Pilot Gig Club for making the right call to go ahead with Saturday’s Roadford Winter League Regatta. The course was a thrilling 2.1km kite course, technical, punchy and great fun, which only added to the challenge and the buzz of the day. Tamar and Tavy rowers went home muddy, tired, proud… and smiling.”
The next Roadford meet will take place on 21st March, hosted by Boscastle & Crackington Gig Club, with January’s postponed event now rescheduled for 4th April.
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