BUDE Pilot Gig Club has got off to a storming start to the 2014 season.

The club's supervet (over 50s) rowers came back from the inaugural National Supervets Championships at Appledore in February with a third place in both the men's and the mixed competitions.

Competing against much bigger clubs, the men's crew of Gray Smale, David Bates, Simon Whattler, Richard Parker, Terry Yelland and Tony Denford, coxed by Josh Stevens, were the top Cornish crew behind Ilfracombe and Swanage, while the mixed crew of Jennie Parker, Tanya Salisbury, Gray Smale, Richard Parker, Marylyn Jones and John Parnall (with Josh Stevens again coxing) pushed Clevedon and Ilfracombe all the way to the finish.

The club, which has junior, senior, veterans (over 40) and supervet rowers are always looking to recruit new members.

For the full report, and a round up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.