Good start to

rowing season

LOOE Rowing Club have a promising start to the season with the junior crew having an inspiring couple of races in the SeaCom Championships staged by Mevagissey Gig Club at Pentewan in mid June.

The Juniors stormed through the opposition in the first race on Saturday to wn spectacularly. The Sunday race was changed from a kite course to a straight sprint and even though keen to take the double the Looe boys couldn't catch Par. However, after they had brought Samphire in they were greeted with the news that they were in fact joint winners on points. Both men's and women's crews were also in contention throughout the weekend.

Work is still ongoing at the gig shed on the Millpool which is being lengthened to accommodate the gigs and trailers. The work is taking sometime as the club has to rely heavily on voluntary help. Anyone who would like to lend a hand is asked to contact Ian Bassett on 01503 264644.

The club are at the Rame regatta this weekend July 14/15, and the following weekend will be extra busy as they compete at Mounts Bay on Saturday, July 21, followed by Looe's own regatta on Sunday, July 22.

Playtime in

West Looe

WEST Looe playgroup are organising the official opening of their new outdoor play area to take place on Friday next, July 20 at 11am.

The children, parents and committee are inviting all past members to come along and join in the celebration. There will also be punch and a special cake to enjoy.

Amenity Society

THE later date resulted in a smaller attendance than usual at the annual general meeting of Looe and District Amenity Society, but all present were delighted that Sid Gardner accepted the invitation to become the president.

Members felt that Sid's public service to the community including six years as a past mayor made him a most worthy successor to the late John Simmonds, who had been a founder member in 1975.

Other elections were: Peter Bartram (chairman), Colin Shore (vice chairman), Charles Coad (treasurer), Jean Grimer and Mary Shore (secretaries), C Adams, Mr and Mrs J Brown, M Edwards, D and J Fellick, J Field, G Gill, G Holmes, R Hogg, P King, E and A Moore, V Stokes, J Sweet, W Jeavons.

Jet skis banned

from beach

After a number of complaints and concerns over safety to swimmers, Looe Harbour Commissioners have taken steps to ban the use of jet skis inside the Banjo pier, and incorporating the beach area.

At a joint meeting with East Looe Town Trust, the Trust confirmed they would be banning jet ski's from being launched off the beach. The Commissioners are positioning buoys off the beach, beyond which jet ski's will not be permitted.

The Commissioners have also stated that any person using a motorised craft without the harbour's jurisdiction who do not pay annual 'harbour dues' must contact harbourmaster Ted Webb prior to launching. Sight of public insurance liability will be requested and there will be a fee of £3.50 for each launching. The harbourmaster can be contacted on 07815164470.

Crime detection

rate good

AT Looe Town Council meeting on Monday, Community Constable Barry Mills gave the crime figures in the town since he last reported them on April 13. He said there had been 98 crimes all told, 42 of which had occurred in the last six weeks. However, he was pleased to report that 33 per cent had already been detected, which was very good and higher than the average detection rate for the district.

Compared with the first six months in 2000, the figures up to the end of June this year were 184, as opposed to the previous 159, an increase of 25 incidents.

Of the recorded crimes since April, 13 were assaults, 26 theft from motor vehicles, 12 burlaries which included 5 dwellings, 13 damages, 25 thefts, 2 harrassment, 3 possible cannabis, 2 threats to kill, 1 drink/driving, 2 drunk/disorderly.