MEMBERS of Cotehele Quay Gig Club enjoyed their best-ever start to a rowing season with a top-20 finish in the six-mile Three Rivers Race at Saltash at the start of the month.

Labelled the 'annual endurance torture test for the gig rowing fleet', as reported last week, the long-distance race, run by Caradon Rowing Club, starts at the Tamar Bridge and visits the entrances to the rivers feeding the Tamar.

Cotehele Quay's rowers stepped up their training and saw it pay off, with the Ladies' A crew rising from 25th last year to finish 13th out of 51 boats with a time of 54 minutes, 37 seconds. Meanwhile, the Ladies' B team were joint 34th in one hour, 40 seconds, having not raced at the previous event.

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