ON A blustery October day, crews from all over the principality stormed down the River Taff in this end of season race. In this regatta the premier event coxed fours, the Penarth crew stormed down the River Taff. The crew in the junior men's novice boat, Cecil Thomas powered their way down the course overtaking Llandaff's senior men's crew in the first mile.

They kept their lead and increased their distance, winding their way down the Taff into Cardiff Bay on this two mile course. The cox, Helen Illiff, steered a superb line down the river from Sophia Gardens, ending up at the transport bridge in Cardiff Bay. All the way down the cox was able to keep Llandaff senior men's crew at bay, steering a magnificent course and winning the event by 54 seconds on Llandaff’s senior men's four.

The junior men's crew of; Jack Davies, Gabe Ackerman, Josh Rees, Rhys Savory bow with the crew’s average age being 17, was a real triumph for the boys and the cox. Nick Hall, head coach of Penarth rowing club, said the boys’ performance was a great achievement and Helen’s hard work coxing them over the last month has proved a tremendous success. It was especially important and an even greater achievement for Gabe Ackerman and Jack Davies, as they have also won the Cardiff Head of the River in February.

This earlier race at the start of the season, showed exactly how fit crews are after winter training having won in the men's junior 18 double scull event; they are now looking forward to February 2015 to get the triple crown at the Cardiff Head of the River.

Meanwhile the second junior men's novice crew, the junior 14 were in the double scull with Jeff Saxon, with Alex Hodges stroking and Hugh Leach in the bow of the boat, wound their way down the River Taff on this 2.5 mile course and achieved third position in the race. At the end of day and with the regatta finished Nick Hall in a very pleased tone said: “It was a good day at the office, as always”.

The club will be rowing at the Monmouth head of the river in December, the last race of the season. Penarth Rowing Club has now taken delivery of a new boat trailer with a grant from the Welsh sports council and so the club will be participating in regattas throughout the country, as far afield as London to compete.

The club at this present moment is going from strength to strength and with the crews’ continuously winning races throughout the year; it shows all the hard work that everybody is putting in is paying off. They’re looking for men and women from the age of 15 upwards to row at the club; Nick hall said, “It’s a fantastic sport, so come try it”.

The men's crew train on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, whilst the women's crews train on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. For those that are interested in having a go at rowing, go to the Penarth Rowing Club website where you will find Nick’s contact details. Once again well done to all the crews that performed at this race from Nick Hall and the rest of the club.