Thursday saw Bideford Blues descend on a warm sunny River Dart for the Poet of Dartmouth Royal Regatta, races started at nine third in the morning running until nearly six o’clock with the last race being the men’s open eights.
The Blues were up against opposition from the normal West of England clubs but also clubs from West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and a first for Dartmouth Regatta two clubs from Australia being Cario Bay and Melbourne Rowing clubs.
The day started with a disappointment in the ladies junior 16 quad with the crew of Shannon Monaghan, Charlottie Berry, Kirsty Snow, Abie Lawson and cox Tina Robertson placing second and losing out to championship rivals the Reds, this means it is all to row for at Bideford Regatta on Saturday to reverse the positions and decide the champions.
Winners on the day were the ladies novice double of Annie Cooke and Jessica Myers taking their final by five lengths from Plymouth. Also picking up silverware the mixed senior c four of Megan and Jack Harty, Oli Roberts-Key, Zoe Robertson and mum Tina coxing winning from Shoreham and Plymouth in the final. The club also picked up minor places in finals on the day after progressing through had heats , but there were disappointments with crews getting knocked out in their heats . The club are next racing on Saturday 31 August at the final West of England Regatta at Bideford, first race starts at 12:45.