PORLOCK Weir Gig Club staged its first regatta last Saturday at Wimbleball Lake.

The event, sponsored by Shearwell Data Livestock Systems, was a welcome opportunity for racing ahead of the World Championships on the Isles of Scilly in Ma and attracted gig clubs from all over the south west.

Crews from Ilfracombe, Bristol, Clevedon, Burnham-on-Sea, Portishead, Weymouth and Midland Cornish pilot gig clubs threw themselves into the increasingly windy and wet action and all had a great day. Overall winners were Weymouth.

Two-times Olympic gold-medallist, Alex Gregory, also attended, even jumping into one of the Porlock boats for a race. Rowers across the region are big fans of his ‘Mind Body Row’ training app and were delighted to have him there.

The organisers said any profit from the event would go towards the Porlock club’s funds.

Competition was stiff and the winners, in race order, were as follows: Women’s Masters, (sponsored by Somerset Climate Control), Weymouth: Men’s Masters,( sponsored by Paper Pixels), Bristol: Women’s B, (sponsored by The Colour Centre Minehead), Ilfracombe: Men’s B, (sponsored by Somerset Climate Control), Ilfracombe: Women’s Vets, sponsored by Southwest Customised Clothing, Bristol: Men’s Vets, (sponsored by Beechtree Engineering), Portishead: Women’s A, (sponsored by Window Woman and Locksmith), Ilfracombe: Men’s A, (sponsored by Alex Gregory - Mind, Body, Row), Ilfracombe.

Porlock Weir Gig Club would like to thank Shearwell Data, SW Lakes, Wimbleball Rowing and all the race sponsors, prize donators and everyone for attending what was a wonderful joint effort and a fantastic day.