River Teign Rowing Club took a big squad and two gigs to Salcombe on Sunday for their annual gig regatta.

Racing started with the men's B. In Double Dutch were Bob Higgs, Paul McMurray, Kevin Mason, Nigel Evans Simon Hounsell, Rupert Holliday and cox Rachel Holgate, while in Teign Spirit were Ian Donahue, Mike Izzard, Simon Putt, Rich Wickenden, Jake Laxton, John Holgate and cox Kate Barczok.

Both Teign crews got away well, although the fleet was bunched up, trying to keep out of the tide and some clashes of oars were inevitable.

Towards the first turning mark, Double Dutch pushed ahead slightly from the closely packed group and gained the advantage of priority on the turn over the two Salcombe gigs.

Having space to turn cleanly, Dutch increased the distance between them and the following gigs on the two subsequent turns.

Teign Spirit rowed strongly and pulled through the fleet at each turn so that by the time the race had reached the Wolf Rock marker, Dutch was chasing Bristol in second place and Teign Spirit led the fleet behind them.

Strong rowing from the Teign crews saw them consolidate these positions on the homeward leg to finish second and third respectively.

Teign also had two gigs racing in the ladies' B – Felicity Rawlings, Jane Avery, Rachel Holgate, Catherine Lovell, Jo Haydon, Cindy John and Paul Walton coxing in Double Dutch, with Kerrie Potter, Anne Holliday, Kate Barczok, Sharon Sanger, Sue Thulborn, Julie Hill and cox John Lintell in Teign Spirit.

Double Dutch got a flying start and quickly established a slight lead; with a strong and positive style they stretched this out through the race and by the homeward leg had put a considerable distance between them and the following gig.

Teign Spirit was that following gig, having had a great race and tidy turns to put them clearly ahead of their rivals. Teign crossed the line in first and second places – a pattern which was to be repeated through the afternoon.

There were so many ladies' crews attending the regatta that a separate ladies' C race was run.

Julie Cranwell, Anne Holliday, Grace Pimlott, Jane Avery, Lisa Pash, Suzannah Cranwell and cox John Holgate took to the water in Double Dutch.

Teign's crew worked well together and by first mark they had established a lead, which they held to the finish line and crossed as clear winners.

The men's A race also had two Teign crews on the water – Kevin Mason, Paul Free, Dave Schiller, Nigel Evans, Paul Walton, Pinger Netherton and cox Kate Barczok were in Double Dutch, while Graham Hill, Rich Wickenden, Simon Putt, Simon Hounsell, Jake Laxton, Rupert Holliday and cox Rachel Holgate took Teign Spirit.

Strong work and tidy turns from both crews saw them emerge from the third mark in first and second place.

Teign Spirit chased hard but Dutch had an answer to every challenge and crossed the line clear winners.

Teign had one crew in the ladies' A race – Kerrie Potter, Kelly Inness, Lucy Barczok, Sarah Free, Ali Bland, Kate Barczok and cox Paul Walton in Double Dutch.

They dominated the race, stetching their lead throughout and finishing well ahead of the rest of the fleet.

Two Teign crews lined up for the men's veteran race – Graham Hill, Paul Free, Kevin Mason, Simon Hounsell, Paul Walton, Dave Sciller and cox Rachel Holgate in Double Dutch and Bob Higgs, Paul McMurray, John Lintell, Mike Izzard, John Holgate, Nigel Evans and cox Lisa Pash in Teign Spirit.

Double Dutch turned first at the first mark and made the most of this advantage by increasing the lead out of each subsequent turn; by the Wolf Rock marker, they were closing on Teign Spirit who had taken the lead in the shorter course.

With Double Dutch gaining quickly all the way, the two gigs crossed side-by side with a half-gig length advantage to Teign Spirit.

Teign had one entry in the lady veterans' race.

Felicity Rawlings, Anne Holliday, Rachel Holgate, Catherine Lovell, Lisa Pash, Julie Hill and cox Kate Barczok took Double Dutch into the lead within the first 50 yards, before pulling clear to record a comprehensive victory.

The day's racing concluded with a mixed event where each crew was made up of a mix of rowers from the different clubs.

The previous day, the club's ladies' A crew went to the starred event at Pentewen beach, run by Mevagissey gig club.

Kerrie Potter, Kelly Inness, Lucy Barczok, Cindy John, Ali Bland, Kate Barczok and cox Andy Forte had an excellent race in the club's newest gig, Morgan, finishing in sixth place, setting them up well for a good seeding at the county championships at the end of the season.