There were two mightily important races this week. First up was the ladies with the White Rose. It was a sad, sombre, emotional and fitting start to the White Rose race on Wednesday night as the crews held their paddles aloft for a minute’s silence prior to the race in respect to Viv Carne who had so sadly but bravely died recently. There were four crews pre picked to contest this race. There was a bit of a sandwich on the start with the Treffry the filling between Active and Dove with crews clashing oars at times. Eventually Treffry pulled clear and were 4 lengths clear at the eastern mark with the crews taking a wide berth due to the very strong westerly breeze making the turn really difficult. The practices held on days leading up to the race proved invaluable for the Treffry crew. On the second leg Active started to make inroads to the Treffry lead. However from the western mark in the Treffry started to pull clear again. Sylvia Morris presented a lovely silver plate and tankards to the winning coxswain Derek Applewhite and his crew of Jenny Ingle, Jules Arthur, Jenna Paull, Kelly Broderick, Ali Beavis and Vi Lawson.

On Sunday in a rearranged race the men rowed the Whitehouse Straight race. This year was the 20^th year that Sheilah Parnell has sponsored the race in memory of her father Ewart Kennedy who was one of the first Rowing Club secretaries back in the 1920’s. Sheilah started the race in 1990 and it became the first straight cup race rowed by the club for over 50 years and it has always been a straight mile race in flat out rowing from Porth to the harbour. The race is named the Whitehouse in memory of Sheilah’s late husband. The chosen gigs were Fly, Active and Good Intent. The Good Intent needs to be rowed flat out to keep it going to its full potential and this year many a crew has struggled to keep her flying. However on Sunday her crew who appeared to be a prospective Silver gig crew rowed her to a splendid victory under the stewardship of Derek Applewhite. The winning crew of Marcus Bawden, Ross King, Rob Wigley, Danny Beckerleg, Mark Rea and Pete Anstey were presented with the trophy and generous momentoes by Sheilah in the clubhouse.

On Friday night the ladies Welly took place. It was the Dregs again who won to make it 3 wins on the bounce with the help of foreign import. The Dregs were in the unfancied Good Intent and they held off Joe-Kers and Rattlers. The St. Agnes girls had their best race as they finished above both the Scruffettes and the Pirates. The winning coxswain was Tim Poole with his crew of Fay Sutherland, Debbie Blight, Kelly Broderick, Caseley Heard, Ella Cattermoul and Jules Arthur.

Tim jumped out of his role as coxswain and into the middle of the engine room of the Underdogs in their mens race. And what a race it was as the Dogs were finally unleashed and instead of snapping at the heels of others they were the top dogs as they showed their bite was just as good as their bark as they rowed like terriers to a victory and a long awaited promotion. There was much celebrating to be done back in the kennel! The winning crew were Mark Barraclough, Steve Jones, Rob Wigley, Mark Rea, Tim Poole and Jonny Dacey and they were steered home by Marcus Bawden. They beat the Billies who were close to them on the mark but eventually lost by 7 lengths. Mark Barraclough of the Dogs was delighted with the performance of his fellow mongrels. Dave Endean and Pete Anstey of the Billies were gracious in defeat and acknowledged publicly that the far better crew had won.

In the top tier race it was dynamite action all the way. Going up to the first mark we had Lost Boys, Drifters and Hobblers coming together as Michael Martin, coxswain of the Lost Boys played it tough which is one way of saying he weaved aimlessly causing havoc. Just before the eastern it was Hobblers from Lost Boys, Drifters, Indians and Baldies. After the mark Drifters found themselves adrift in last place and facing relegation. They had a poor second leg but stuck on the tail of the Baldies. The Hobblers proved they were the bees knees of rowing but Hobblers spokesman Daniel Gilbert was more modest as he described his crew as the crème brulee as they swept to a 6 lengths victory over the Lost Boys. Does Daniel know what crème brulee is? The Hobblers were back on top which is how they like it. As Matt Robins put it when he said,”is there any other position?” The Indians held onto 3^rd place but carnage broke out as the Drifters came back and back at the Baldies. Both crews felt that they had edged the others. But we know who really won, we know! Heated discussions were held on the water, the beach and the clubhouse but the wise counsel of Wayne Row was taken and it was declared a dead heat. One may ask why it matters. If you ask that question then you have severely failed to understand the emotion, history, enthusiasm and sheer commitment that is gig rowing. So to decide who is relegated to division 2 the Baldies and the Drifters will recreate that race as they go head to head, one on one tonight, Wednesday. What a fantastic week! A sad week for sure in so many ways but the spirit that emanates from all at Newquay Rowing Club is a wonderful example to all in the modern world. Of course we have our arguments, of course we briefly fall out when racing, of course tempers flare but always always always the true sporting  and community spirit of Newquay Rowing Club comes shining through. Long may it be so!