BOSCASTLE and Crackington Haven were the best performing Cornish gig club at Clovelly’s annual regatta, taking sixth place overall, ahead of local rivals Bude and Port Isaac.

Their men’s teams made the difference, finishing a highly creditable second in both the B race behind Torridge, and then in the A race behind Ilfracombe who won the event overall.

Ilfracombe’s victory was thanks to a strong performance across the board, and particularly the contribution of their under14 and under16 crews, who sealed the overall win for their club.

Torridge were beaten into second place despite taking four race wins to Ilfracombe’s two and finishing on the podium in every race they contested. Barnstaple took third place, beating Appledore by a single point again thanks to their under16 crew.

On a perfect day for rowers and spectators alike, ten crews from Devon, Cornwall and as far afield as Hampshire descended on Clovelly for a day’s highly competitive racing.

The opening veteran’s races set the pattern for the day, Torridge taking first and Ilfracombe second in both men’s and women’s races, with Appledore third in the women’s, and Barnstaple third in the men’s.

In the under14 race, Ilfracombe crossed the line well ahead of Langstone, but with two under16s in the Ilfracombe crew, they sportingly asked the stewards to award first place to a delighted Langstone. The under 16 race saw Ilfracombe take top spot ahead of Barnstaple and Langstone.

Torridge again took first place in both the women’s and men’s B races, with Appledore second and Barnstaple third in the women’s, while Boscastle/Crackington Haven took second and Ilfracombe third in the men’s.

Appledore took top slot in the women’s A race ahead of Torridge, with Ilfracombe in third. In the men’s A race, Ilfracombe rounded off their day in style taking first place ahead of Boscastle/Crackington Haven and Torridge.

There was very close racing further down the field in all classes, with occasional clashes of oars at the first turn in particular, and some epic battles over the long last leg past the crowds on the harbour wall. But rivalries on the water were quickly forgotten as rowers from all clubs celebrated their successes together.