THE Dart Gig Regatta, held on Saturday, April 11, saw clubs from across the region arrive to join the fun.

Starting off early, the U14 juniors got the ball rolling to contend in the prestigious Sugary Cove Shield, Dart settling for a bronze.

Their U16s went one step further and claimed silver shortly after.

The women's A race saw nine teams competing for The Glanvil Trophy, Dart rowed a powerful race eventually holding off Lyme’s “Black Ven” to grab sixth. The home “B” and “C” boats achieved similar results.

Stepping up the mark next were the women’s vets and they put The Destroyers on the winners’ sheet to take the Bob Hutchings Trophy.

Dart were now at the races and could sense the possibility of overall victory. The super vets fell just short of the podium but the female masters stormed to a well-deserved victory, maintaining crucial momentum.

It was now the turn of the open competitors, mostly men joined by a sprinkling of women, to consolidate the position on the leaderboard. The possibility of not winning a home regatta just before the World Championships was too horrible to contemplate.

Appledore and Teign were in a different class in the open “A” race and Darts were pipped to third by Cattewater.

After a horrendous and chaotic start, the “B” crew fought from the back of an 11-ship race to haul themselves onto the podium for bronze. The “C” crew put in a spirited effort but could only manage fifth.

At this point, the day was lost and it seemed Salcombe or Teign would take the Laurel Wreath and the vital boost of spirit to Isles of Lyonesse.

Dart were not downhearted, however, and threw everything at the final trifecta of contests. In a stunning turnaround, scored second, first and second again in the Vets, Supervets and Masters, retaining the Green Shield by a single point against a crestfallen Salcombe.