THE Barham Cup Rowing Race, postponed from July, drew a good crowd at the finishing line, Newton Abbot Town Quay, on Saturday.
River conditions were choppy but an incoming tide ensured a fast race. Winners Andrew Darkin, Patrick Gaskins, Ed Rawlings and Tom Stoyle completed the five-mile course in a little over 34 minutes. Winners of the Newton Abbot Town Cup were Terry Hudson and Nigel Evans.
Rowers traditionally change crews at the Coombe Cellars, the halfway mark. The worry is that the relief rowers will have used their time there to such good effect that the second half of the race is a more relaxed, well-oiled affair than the first half.
When rowers Will Burton and Jamie Stoyle landed at the halfway mark, they were said not to be best pleased that their team members were not ready and waiting to take over. The pair were in second place and the delay caused them to slip to third, but their errant team mates, John Hingston and Ben Smith, were able to regain their position in the second leg of the race.
Race organiser Roger Gallagher said rumours were going that the relief crew were enjoying a drink while Burton and Stoyle were standing in the water waiting for them to arrive – but he tactfully added that he did not think this was true.
The number of rowers was slightly down on last year as the rescheduled date clashed with another big rowing event in Cornwall.
Despite this, at the celebratory bash afterwards the beer and burgers ran out as hungry competitors and supporters tucked in.
Newton Abbot Town Council usually fields a team but this year was unable to. A semi-official team took its place comprising borough steward Michael Martyn, civic society vice-chairman Michael Ryan, honorary burgess Peter Woolner and Alex Martin, standing in for his dad, Larry, second constable of the borough.
Mr Martyn said they acquitted themselves well, despite having no competitive rowing experience.
'Alex is at least the son of a former Brixham trawlerman and I am the great great great great great-grandson of an 18th century 1st Lord of the Admiralty. On the other hand, Peter's grandfather was on the Titanic, which some might feel did not bode so well for our chances.'