A small contingent from Teign Scullers – a section of River Teign Rowing Club – took part at the City of Exeter Regatta, which is believed to be the city’s oldest sporting fixture.

A total of 234 crews competed in more than 140 sprint races, which made for a good day of rowing on the river.

It was a warm day with a slight headwind on a course that is always a favourite with the crowd on the quayside, with lots of cheering.

Teign successfully defended their coxed quad title in the masters’ category – but only just!

The crew of Mark Eastman, Brian Malone, Gordon Yeats and Brian Cort had an age handicap start of five seconds on Exeter and Bideford Blues, with the latter coming up fast on the inside, but Teign scrambled home first by a margin of just 2ft.

Teign Scullers’ sweep masters (same crew) performed bravely but were well beaten by Taunton and more closely by Dart Totnes, who drew ahead in the last stretch.

In the masters’ singles, the draw did not favour Teign, with Mark Eastman and Gordon Yeates competing in the same heat.

Eastman made the final, in which the Dart Totnes sculler showed his fitness and winning by a length-and-a-half.