BUDE Gig Club Juniors competed in their first race of the season last week at Charlestown; not only was it their first ever race but it was also their first time at sea, and they did a fantastic job.

The team, Jasmine Edwards, Clair Whitfield, James Hambley, Josh Edwards, Joshua Greening and Emily Whelan were competing in the under 14s category and the average age of our youngsters was 11, however they held their own against some sizeable 13 year olds, coming in 5th out of a field of 6.

This weekend the club ventured to Daymer Bay to compete in Rock Gig Club's regatta, and what a fantastic day it was, the weather was glorious and the venue stunning which set us up for a great club day out.

The juniors, being novices at racing and quite young in comparison to the competition, were out to beat at least one boat, two would have been a bonus, and to encourage them they were promised an ice cream by their Coxswain (Anthony Denford) if they beat one boat, but Anthony regretted making that deal, when his crew came 5th out of 9 beating 4 other boats.

There were some very proud parents and club members watching the junior crew come in, in the middle of the field. This week's crew included Jasmine Edwards, Clair Whitfield, James Hambley, Josh Edwards, Alex Vernon and Emily Whelan

The adults also had an interesting day in one of the men's races, they hit some rough water and when they reached the beach they were up to their ankles in water but still smiling, just, it was defiantly a christening by fire for Jonny Hemmings racing for the first time and Andy Bray racing for the second time. Both have only been rowing for a few weeks.

The ladies have also done well this season

consistently keeping in the middle of the field, coming 7th in their heat on Sunday. This had a positive influence in the overall score for Bude Gig Club coming 14th out of a total of 30 teams.

The most entertaining part of the day was the novelty mixed race which entailed the team running down the beach launching themselves in to their boats, rowing out to a buoy, rowers swapping sides and then returning to the beach where the bow person leaped out of the boat and ran up the beach to the finish line, as you can imagine 30 boats equaling 180 rowers launching themselves into boats looked at times like carnage, but very entertaining and great fun.

So in all a fantastic start to the season for Bude Gig club and especially their new up and coming junior section. For more information please see the club's website at http://www.budegigclub.co.uk">www.budegigclub.co.uk.