CONDITIONS for Paignton Regatta were the best seen for more than a decade with racing starting on a 'glass' smooth Tor Bay in superb sunshine.

The coastal breeze did rise later in the regatta and the density of other craft in the Bay increased the wash but the 1000m course was not shortened for the later single sculls races.

However, there were a couple of capsizes by inexperienced scullers, but they both got back into their boats to complete their respective races.

Paignton's youngsters, who have been nurtured by their coaches all season, excelled at their home regatta by achieving not only their first win of the season, but three wins.

Dart Totnes bounced back from the break in their run of Championships of the Day at Appledore last week to win the Championship of the Day at Paignton – that's six out of seven this season, and they had six event wins.

Dartmouth chalked up four wins and Teign Scullers and Torquay one apiece.

Paignton, the seventh regatta in the 2009 WEARA series, eagerly awaited the return of its 'prodigal sons'.

Elliot Barton, Paul Henshaw, Simon Henshaw and Robbie Tucker transferred to Dart Totnes during the winter and their event, the Men's Senior B coxed fours, has produced the most exciting racing throughout the season.

With Rob Crowter-Jones on board as coxswain it was obvious as they went afloat that they were 'pumped up' and eager to perform well against an Exeter crew who had been their match so far and held a one-point lead in the championship.

Both crews were off the start well but 50m out Dart Totnes were beginning to edge into the lead.

Their determination was evident as they extended that lead to a length at halfway but Exeter kept their composure and technique and still had the potential to win if Dart Totnes faltered.

The crews passed Paignton Pier with Dart Totnes holding a two-length lead which they wound out to three lengths at the finish.

But with only two boats in the race no points were available and Exeter still lead Dart Totnes by a point in the championship.

The Men's U18 coxed fours was also a 'two horse' race with the two Dart clubs of Dart Totnes and Dartmouth facing each other.

The Dart Totnes crew of Elliott Legg, Sam Pettitt, Tim Whittet, Steve Clarke and cox Rob Crowter-Jones beat Dartmouth's Richie Jeffs, Mike Tilley, Chris China, Liam Boyd and cox Marie Dayment by a distance.

With just three regattas left, Torbay, Dartmouth and Bideford, this Dart Totnes crew have an unassailable lead in the championship.

In the Men's Championship coxed quadruple sculls the Dart Totnes crew of Simon Kerswell-Jensen, Elliott Legg, Merryck Tooley, James Lovering and cox Rob Crowter-Jones totally outclassed the opposition at U16 with a distance win from Plymouth and Bideford Reds.

At U14 Paignton's Tom May, Lewis Lyden, Lewis Bayley, Jack Wills and cox Charlotte Lane brought immense joy to the home club as they beat Bideford Reds by a distance to give Paignton its first win of the 2009 season.

In the Ladies' Championship coxed fours Dartmouth sprang a surprise at Senior C with a win on their first outing this season and for two of the crew their first race for three years.

The crew of Jenny Pichowski, Suzie Bowden, Hanna China, Chrissy Rugg and cox Marie Dayment beat Bideford Blues and Bideford Reds.

At U18, Bideford Reds beat Paignton's Marisa Schubert, Annabel Ferguson, Becky Stanley, Beth Hogan and cox Sam Hallett by a length.

In the Ladies' Championship coxed quadruple sculls Exeter won at U16 by three quarters of a length from the Dart Totnes crew of Emma Reiser, Louise Hawkyard, Devon Cleal, Emily Bibby and cox Chelsie Cleal, with Bideford Blues third.

At U14 Bideford Reds were distance winners from Libby Hogan, Ella Collins, Poppy Disney, Bridget Garry and cox Charlotte Lane.

In the Championship single sculls there were wins for Steve Clarke of Dart Totnes at men's U18; James Lovering of Dart Totnes at Men's U16; Sam Tilley of Dartmouth at Ladies' Senior C; Hutchings of Exeter at Ladies' U16; and Adams Gas-sponsored Steve Marshall of Paignton at Men's Novice.

Steve Clarke of Dart Totnes has now amassed sufficient points to win the Men's U18 Championship.

South Devon wins in the supporting events were Dartmouth's Yorkie Lomas, Vaughan Bowden, David Hart and cox Marie Dayment at Men's Open Veteran coxed fours; a Paignton/Exmouth composite crew including Paignton's Maris Schubert and Becky Stanley at Mixed Novice coxed fours; Richie Jeffs and Mike Tilley of Dartmouth at Men's U16 double sculls; Maurice Dunn of Torquay and Tony Szender of Dart Totnes at Men's Open Veteran double sculls; and Jacinta Jackson and Sally Livett of Teign Scullers at Ladies' Senior C double sculls.

PAIGNTON REGATTA RESULTS

Championship events: Men's Senior B coxed fours: 1 Dart Totnes 2 Exeter. Men's Senior C coxed fours: 1 Exeter A 2 Exeter B. Men's Novice coxed fours: 1 Exmouth 2 Bideford Reds. Men's U18 coxed fours: 1 Dart Totnes 2 Dartmouth. Men's U16 coxed quadruple sculls: 1 Dart Totnes 2 Plymouth 3 Bideford Reds. Men's U14 coxed quadruple sculls: 1 Paignton 2 Bideford Reds. Ladies' Senior C coxed fours: 1 Dartmouth 2 Bideford Blues 3 Bideford Reds. Ladies' U18 coxed fours: 1 Bideford Reds 2 Paignton. Ladies' U16 coxed quadruple sculls: 1 Exeter 2 Dart Totnes 3 Bideford Blues. Ladies' U14 coxed quadruple sculls: 1 Bideford Reds 2 Paignton. Men's Senior C single sculls: 1 Knowles – Falmouth 2 Malloy – Exmouth 3 Brunyee - Falmouth. Men's Novice single sculls: 1 Steve Marshall – Paignton 2 Wilkins – Falmouth. Men's U18 single sculls: 1 Steve Clarke – Dart Totnes 2 Chris China – Dartmouth 3 Angel - Exmouth. Men's U16 single sculls: 1 James Lovering – Dart Totnes, 2 Merryck Tooley – Dart Totnes 3 Mike Tilley - Dartmouth. Ladies' Senior C single sculls: 1 Sam Tilley – Dartmouth 2 Reinso-Maset - Plymouth. Ladies' U16 single sculls 1 Hutchings – Exeter 2 Payne – Exeter 3 Emily Bibby – Dart Totnes.

Supporting events: Men's Open Veteran coxed fours: 1 Dartmouth 2 Teign Scullers. Mixed Senior B coxed fours: 1 Bideford Reds 2 Bideford Blues 3 Dartmouth. Mixed Novice coxed fours: 1 Paignton/Exmouth 2 Bideford Reds. Men's Senior C double sculls: R/O Bideford Reds. Men's Novice double sculls: 1 Falmouth 2 Torquay 3 Teign Scullers. Men's U18 double sculls: R/O Exmouth. Men's U16 double sculls: 1 Dartmouth 2 Bideford Reds 3 Plymouth. Men's Open Veteran double sculls: 1 Torquay/Totnes 2 Teign Scullers. Ladies' Senior C double sculls: 1 Teign Scullers 2 Teign Scullers. Ladies' U14 double sculls: 1> Bideford Reds & Bideford Blues 3 Torquay/Paignton. Ladies' U16 double sculls: 1 Exeter C 2 Falmouth B 3 Exeter A. Men's Open Veteran single sculls: 1 Reeby – Plymouth 2 Drew – Exmouth 3 O'Dea – Exmouth.

Championship of the day: 1 Dart Totnes 22.5pts, 2 Bideford Reds 21.5pts, 3 Exeter 19pts, 4 Dartmouth 15pts, 5 Paignton 12pts, 6 Exmouth 11.5pts, 7 Falmouth 11pts, 8 Teign Scullers 10pts, 9 Bideford Blues 7.5pts, 10 Plymouth 6pts, 11 Torquay 4pts.