BUDE Pilot Gig Club competed in the 30th anniversary of the Great River Race along the River Thames in London on Saturday, September 8.

Bude came a brilliant fifth out of 49 pilot gig crews and 18th fastest overall out of the 329 boats that entered!

They were the 29th boat across the line, but once adjusted for the staggered start times, it was confirmed they had come 18th.

The crew consisted of two ladies and six men, which meant they had to enter as a men’s crew. To be classed as a mixed crew, there had to have equal number of men and women rowing continuously.

As part of the rules, all crews must carry a passenger, so to ensure a fair race for all participants, we swapped positions during the race.

A spectacular boat race up the River Thames, it attracts over 330 crews from all over the globe. The Great River Race appeals to every level of competitor! From dedicated athletes who like winning, to those who enjoy laughter, fancy dress and charity stunts, it’s a great fun day out for both competitors and spectators

Reflecting on the event, men’s captain, James Neep, said: “None of us had done it before, which made it even more exciting! The whole weekend exceeded our expectations.

“It was a great atmosphere, we stayed in the campsite in Ham with hundreds of other rowers, there was a barbecue, bar and band on the Friday night, perfect preparation for a 5am wake up and endurance row the next day. This was then followed by several beers and a party after the row!

“The row itself was certainly challenging and we all have huge blisters to prove it, but we had prepared with plenty of training and endless laps around Tamar Lakes. Several rowers rowed the whole distance (myself, Michelle Hinfey and Neil Dennett), whilst the others did the majority, swapping in out in planned changes throughout the race.

“Although it was two and-a-half hours of rowing, the time flew (apart from the last few miles!), and rowing past Houses of Parliament, the Shard and other iconic sights of London was truly amazing! We all had an absolutely fantastic time; we are still buzzing from our result and would do it again without a doubt! It was a brilliant weekend, and we plan to go back next year!”

The Bude team consisted of Jody Dennett (ladies captain and cox/rower), Michelle Hinfey (rower), Colin Girdler (rower), James Neep (men’s captain and rower), Danny Marsh (cox/rower), Neil Dennett (rower), Bert Stephens (rower) and Neil Jackman (rower).