PORTLAND Gig Rowing Club were among 150 competitors and spectators who gathered at the Northney Marina, Hayling Island for a regatta hosted by Langstone Cutters.

It was a great weekend of racing and, on the Saturday, battles commenced around four buoy turns over a distance of approximately 1.8 miles.

The Portland rowers’ hard work paid off and silver medals were awarded to the ladies A, men’s veterans and mixed crews, with bronze medals collected by the men’s A and B crews.

On the Sunday, the ladies’ crew, rowing Pulpit Rock, entered the 13-mile endurance race around Hayling Island.

The weather was favourable but tidal flows in areas around the island were challenging.

Occasional squirts from a water pistol were aimed at the crew by cox Wendy Stenhouse to cool them down.

The ladies finished the course strongly, and won the Fastest Ladies’ Trophy and set a new record.

The crew rowed from start to finish without changing over a crew member and were the fourth fastest vessel to finish overall behind the mixed and a men’s crew.

If you would like more information about gig rowing, go to portlandgigrowing club.co.uk

* The very first Dorset Schools Gig Rowing Championships for Year Nine students will be held at Weymouth Rowing Club today.

During the last two months, more than 50 pupils have been trained by the Weymouth club and this will culminate in the championship competition.

There are eight teams competing and there will be single gender crews as well as mixed crews.

Racing commences at 3pm, so if you want to watch this uni- que competition, go down to the rowing club on the Nothe Parade.