Dart Totnes claim fifth regatta title
An increased entry on previous seasons ensured there were some competitive races over the 1000-metre course on Stithians Lake about seven miles from Redruth.
The windy location produced rough water on the start making life difficult for scullers and starters, but once away competitors enjoyed a stiff tailwind.
Dart Totnes will soon need a clubhouse extension to house their trophy haul. They again won the championship of the day, that's all five this season, and 14 events.
Dartmouth won one event and it was another blank day for Paignton and Torquay.
Again there was no Men's Senior A coxed fours so the Men's Senior B coxed fours became the major Championship event of the day.
The race lived up to its top billing, producing an extremely exciting close finish with the Dart Totnes crew of Merryck Tooley, Steve Clarke, Paul Henshaw, Simon Henshaw, Robbie Tucker and cox, Chelsie Cleal, losing by just two feet from Exeter A with Exeter B third.
The Men's Senior C coxed fours produced another close finish with Falmouth beating Exeter A by a quarter of a length with Exeter B a distance down in third place.
At Men's Novice coxed fours, Falmouth were one-length winners from the Dart Totnes crew of James Lovering, Conrad Gillespie, Jared Hemming, Alex Woodward and cox, Steve Clarke.
The Dart Totnes crew of Elliott Legg, Merryck Tooley, Lewis van Diggele, Steve Clarke and cox Owen Small, returned to their winning ways at Men's Under-18 coxed fours after the disappointment of being disqualified at Wimbleball the previous week.
Dart Totes beat Dartmouth's Mike Tilley, Liam Boyd, Richie Jeffs, David Langmead and Chrissy Rugg (cox) by a comfortable three lengths and now lead the Championship with 24 points from Dartmouth who have 10 points.
In the Men's Championship coxed quadruple sculls, the Dart Totnes crew of James Lovering, Sam Richardson, Alex Rowe, Merryck Tooley and Owen Small (cox) were three quarter of a length winners at Under-16 from Plymouth with Bideford Reds third.
This Dart Totnes crew lead the Championship with 20 points from Plymouth on 18 points.
At Under-14, Plymouth were four-length winners from the Dart Totnes crew of Jordan Hall, Fraser Tooley, Tom Larkin, Callum Jones and Chelsie Cleal (cox) Paignton's Tom May, Poppy Disney, Lewis Bayley, Jack Wills and cox, Jane Perry were third.
Dart Totnes share the lead in this Championship with Plymouth with both crews on14 points.
In the Ladies' Championship coxed fours there were no races at Senior A or Senior B and Exeter were four- length winners at Senior C from the Dart Totnes crew of Cathy Lovering, Sarah MacNess, Natasha Prior, Catherine Wiseman and cox, Owen Small. Plymouth won the Novice by a length from the Dart Totnes crew of Rachel Gillespie, Suzanne Gardner, Jaquie Hamilton-Kates, Sarah MacNess and cox, James Lovering, and Exeter were two-length winners from the Dart Totnes crew of Claire Gardner, Jade Knight, Christie Rhys-Brown, Jacqui Gibbard and cox, Rob Crowter-Jones, at Under-18 with Bideford Reds third.
The Championship Ladies' coxed quadruple sculls produced a win for Exeter at Under-16 by a length from the Dart Totnes crew of Devon Cleal, Jess Larcombe, Jade Knight, Emily Bibby and cox, Chelsie Cleal, with Bideford Blues third.
At Under 14 the Dart Totnes crew of Phoebe Clarke, Kate Prior, Lucy Chudley, Emily Bibby and cox, Chelsea Cleal, easily beat Bideford Reds with Exeter third.
In the single sculls Championship races there were wins for Martin Burridge of Dart Totnes at Men's Senior C; Ed Burnett at Men's Novice; Steve Clarke of Dart Totnes at Men's Under-18; Dawson of Plymouth at Men's Under 16; Lewis of Falmouth at Ladies Senior C; Lucy Obolensky of Dart Totnes at Ladies Novice; and Hutchings of Exeter at Ladies Under-16.
South Devon winners in the supporting events were the Dart Totnes crew of Owen Small, Ed Burnett, Martin Burridge, Paul Henshaw, Simon Henshaw, Robbie Tucker, Lewis van Diggele, Steve Clarke and cox, Merryck Tooley, at Men's Open eights; the Dart Totnes crew of Simon French, Jared Hemming, Laura Hutchinson, Lucy Obolensky and Rob Crowter-Jones (cox), at Mixed Senior C coxed fours; Ed Burnett and Martin Burridge of Dart Totnes at Men's Senior C double sculls; Richie Jeffs and Mike Tilley at Men's Under-16 double sculls; Lucy Obolensky and Hutchinson of Dart Totnes at Ladies Senior C double sculls; Claire Gardner and Christie Rhys-Brown of Dart Totnes at Ladies Under-18 double sculls; Alex Rowe of Dart Totnes at Men's Under-14 single sculls; and Emily Bibby of Dart Totnes at Ladies Under-14 single sculls.
The final standings were: 1 - Dart Totnes 70pts, 2 Falmouth - 42pts, 3 Exeter 35pts, 4 - Plymouth 34pts, 5 - Dartmouth 14pts, 6 - Bideford Reds 9pts, 7 - Bideford Blues 5pts, 8 - Castle Dore 4pts, 9 - Paignton 3pts.
Comment on this story