What an end to the 2012 season.....

What a week!

This past week has been a great one for the West Region.

On Sat & Sun 8th/9th September two major championships took place. The Newquay Ladies gig championships, and the South Coast Championships. Congratulations to all crews who took part in both events.

• Check out the WEARA page for a report on the south coast champs.  
• Well done to Falmouth Ladies, gig champions once again Gig report on BR website

Cornish Rowing Challenge

On Weds the 12th September, no less than 11 GB rowers came down to Cornwall to take on the top lady gig rowers in the Cornish Rowing Challenge! The event, dreamed up by Annie Vernon Annies Bio saw 3 races take place in picturesque St. Mawes. The event was a result of a huge amount of teamwork and I'm not going to attempt to name all parties involved for fear of forgetting one! The event was hosted by Roseland gig club, headed up by Millie and Norma Edwards. I was there on the quay running a 500m ergo challenge and promoting rowing in the West Region. Over 65 people took part in the erg race, with the top 6 adults and top 6 juniors taking on GB at the end of the night in a 2012m relay.

Katherine Grainger takes on the ergo

The night was fantastic - rowers coming together to celebrate the sport, and also capture a little bit of London 2012. Team GB took on the gigs in race one - in coastal fours supplied by Greenbank Falmouth - needless to say, Team GB won (1-0!). The 2nd race saw GB take to the gigs, to take on another 9 gig crews.....Falmouth gig rowers came out on top! (1-1!). The final race of the day saw GB rowers jump in gigs, with one Olympian in with 5 gig rowers....names in a hat....carnage! Katherine Grainger secured her 2nd gold medal of the year as she crossed the line in the winning crew.

The event had loads of excellent press, check out the links below for a few! Proceeds from the spectator boat and bucket collections went to Shelter Box, Annie is an ambassador for this Cornish Charity.

Cornish Challenge on the one show
Write up on 'this is Cornwall'
Some amazing pics from Shelter box

In other news.......

The next Level 2 coaching course is FULL with a waiting list! It's great to see so many keen new coaches wanting to get qualified.

I took to the water on Sunday evening with the Seniors at Plymouth ARC - I'm aiming to get out and take on some sliding seat rowing this winter now the gig season is over. After the first session my hamstrings are screaming!!