COMPETING in their first ever Under 14s Championships, Bude Pilot Gig Club Juniors battled well at Hayle on July 24 and were trophy winners.

Bude Junior section only formed last August with a handful of youngsters but has steadily built up over the past year. It's a tough challenge for this young club with an average age of just over twelve, as often they are up against strapping boys and girls a year and more their senior, but this has left them undeterred. They have travelled to competitions all over Cornwall and Devon, rowing with real spirit.

Saturday's U14s competition was held at Copper Pool House, a tidal inlet with its sea-gates closed for the event, enabling the young competitors to row unheeded by tides or rough water. This was ideal for the Bude team as they train on Tamar Lake.

Twenty-seven teams were in the competition and they raced in threes, qualifying either for the next round or for the plate race.

Bude's crew comprised Jaz Edwards, Claire Whitfield, Josh Edwards, James Hamberly, Alex Vernon and Abbey Gillett and they came second in both their heats, narrowly missing out on the plate race by eight seconds in an exciting battle for the finish line. All the competitors were awarded a medal and the team was presented with the Joyce Grundy Cup for the crew showing most promise, friendship and spirit.

This was a great outcome in their first season and they can look forward to next year when they will be another year older and stronger, with more training and experience behind them.