South Coast Championships

PLYMOUTH 13th September 2008

The final race of the regatta season completed saw the champion crews from each association head to Plymouth to race off for the title of South Coast Champions. The crews completing there final days of preperation headed to Devon for a few rows down the course. Folkestone retaining there CARA title were racing in the Veteran championship along with Worthing from the Coast. There was strong opposition in this section from both the other associations. West of England ARA were represented by their champions, Greenbank Falmouth who were crowned National Champions at Holme Pierpoint in July. The Hants & Dorset Association represented by BTC Southampton and Lymington. BTC two weeks earlier had beaten Falmouth at Dartmouth Royal Regatta in a very close race. They were also the crew who lead at Dorney Lakes in the Veterans Championship the year before before they were rowed down by Folkestone.

The 1650 metre course was shorter than last years championshion regatta and was widley expected to be problematic with mud banks on either side. The course had been changed from previous years and ran from te bridge at the South of the river Plym past the clubhouse to the North-West with the water channel runnning straight down the middle. The results on the day showed that the course was not favouring any position. Wins were across the starting positions and indeed, prior to the vets there was a win for each lane in the championship races. The sequence being unpredictable and th pictures showing the technical caliber of the crews taking part.

The Veteran race was the final event of the day and for most was a mouth watering propect to finish up the regatta season. Each association tipping there champion crew to win the title. The Folkestone crew of Matt Keller, Simon Appleby, Steve Tupper, Tim Cappell and cox Nathan Belcher Wilson had won the South Coast Championship Veteran title for the previous two years (Dartmouth and Dorney Lakes) and were going for three in a row. Since the South coast championships started in 1957 Folkestone Rowing club had never won two championships back to back until last year. Could the vets win again rasing the bar that they had set the year before even higher and add to the history that they have already made!

Anticipation rose at the race started. The Folkestone crew, traditionally slow starters were away last but soon past Lymington and Worthing.

Greenbank Falmouth and BTC leading the field as the approached the halfway mark. BTC were leading Falmouth with the Folkestone crew chasing them down.

As the went throught 500 metres Folkestone had gained on the leaders and were pushing to the finish. By the 150m mark they were on level terms with Falmouth and pressing the BTC crew.
Folkestone went past Falmouth and the bows pushing past the BTC stroke as they headed for the line.The BTC stroke looking left then right as the crews came at them with 80m to go.

Folkestone closing fast but the line came to soon. Another 50m and it could have been another story!
BTC had won by half a length. What a race!



The crew looked down hearted and dejected but from those that were watching they had seen a thrilling race. The three champion crew giving there all for victory but there can only be won winner. The Folkestone Vet crew should only be proud of what they have achieved. They have made history over the last few years. since 1957 Folkestone have won only six South Coast Championships. The jewel in th crown, the Senior Mens Bideford Bowl (1971), Senior Ladies (1985), Junior Men (1981), Junior Seniors Men (1965 & 2003) and the First Veteran Championship Race in 2004. It took 28 years to regain the JS championship which shows how tough it is to win a title. The vets is a fairly new championship but its full of past Bideford bowl winners which puts the vets wins in 2006 and 2007 as one of the biggest achievements in the clubs history. I should also add that two of the crew were in the 2004 win and were third at the 2005 regatta!

So where did the other championship races end up:
Senior Men's Championship, Bideford Bowl - Bexhill RC (CARA)
Senior Ladies - Coalporters (H&DARA)
Junior/Senior Men's Championship - Christchurch (H&DARA)
Junior Men's Championship - Ryde (H&DARA)
Junior Ladies Championship - Bideford Reds (WEARA)

Open Races:
Senior Men's - Itchen Imperial (H&DARA)
Senior Ladies - Coalporters (H&DARA)
Junior/Senior Men's - (H&DARA)
Junior Men's - Coalporters (H&DARA)
Junior Ladies - Bexhill (CARA)
Novice Men's - Poole (H&DARA)
Novice Ladies - Plymouth/Itchen Imperial (ARA)
Open Vets 40+ - Bideford Blues (WEARA)
Open Vets 50+ - BTC (H&DARA)