PORTLAND Gig Rowing Club celebrated their most successful results at the annual Isles of Scilly World Pilot Gig Championships.

Seven crews attended and hopes were high after a winter of hard training and a good showing at the season curtain-raiser on the River Tamar for the Three Rivers race.

The final placings certainly proved the expectations to be well founded as the ladies’ super-vets achieved a very credible 19th out of 35.

There was a late shuffle of the pack from ladies’ captain Trudy Comben owing to the fact that one of her experienced rowers missed the race due to a fog-bound Land’s End airport.

In the following ladies’ vets race, Portland achieved a highly respectable 20th of 44. Then the attention turned to the men’s vets as the same crew took to the water trying to improve on last year’s 14th.

After a highly competitive race, they had to settle for 14th of 41, again that top-10 finish eluding this impressive vets team.

The action heated up with the main ladies and men’s races, and a record number of entrants were taking part.

Ladies A finished 47th of 152, ladies B 108th of 152 and the men’s A 41st of 148 followed in 76th by men’s B.

The results were particularly impressive across the men’s section who move up in total 48 places.

Men’s captain Keith Avant, said: “It was a really great effort across all crews and the commitment and effort put in over the winter has really paid dividends, I am particular pleased with the development of our younger rowers and we are all now really excited about the up and coming Jurassic League which starts with the Weymouth Regatta on the 26th.”

n Portland Gig Rowing Club is a community-based charity and was formed in March 2009.

The aim of the club is to offer the sport of Cornish pilot gig rowing to any person who wishes to try gig rowing and is open to the public.

Adults of any age or young person’s age 11 years or over are welcome to join the club.

A spokesman said: “We welcome non-rowers and accomplished rowers alike and offer three free taster sessions to those new to the sport.”

If you would like to try gig rowing then visit: portlandgigrowing club.co.uk