Saturday 16^th September and all the hard training was going to be put to the test. This was the 50^th South Coast Championship held on the river Dart in Devon, and saw crews from the South East of England compete with those from Hampshire and the South West. A total of 22 rowing clubs took part. Folkestone were ne of the favourites to take the Veterans' title and at 4:15pm the crew took to the water knowing they were drawn right next to their main rivals Dart-Totnes, who had two national champions in their crew. The gun went and all six crews went off together. Then after about 500 metres Dart-Totnes took an early lead with our Folkestone crew not far behind. At the 1500 metre point Folkestone were still down on their rivals, but were beginning to up their game and started to come back on terms with the leading crew. In the last 500 metres Folkestone dug deep and pulled up right alongside, with the finish now in sight there was nothing in it. Bang went the finish gun and Dart-Totnes had won by about a metre with Folkestone 2^nd. The Folkestone crew of Matt Keller, Simon Appleby, Tim Capell, Steve Tupper and cox Nathan Belcher-Wilson, were gutted and when they came ashore were inconsolable. About half and hour passed and I started to hear whispers that another club - namely Poole, who came 3^rd in the race - had put in an official protest about the Dart-Totnes crew breaking the rules, so a meeting of officials was called at the end of the Regatta and duly found they had indeed broken the rules. So Folkestone was awarded the win.

Although our crew were overjoyed, they were also very angry that the Dart-Totnes crew had not abided by the rules, and cheated the Folkestone crew of the usual celebrations on the finish line, with even Nathan their cox escaping the customary dipping.

To qualify for the Championships, each member of a crew must have represented their club at at least three regattas and Dart-Totnes had not done this, thereby breaking the rules.

Folkestone was also represented in the Open Veteran race and the crew of Ken Campbell, Pat Leppard, Paul 'Porky' Hoveman, Clive Kirkham had a good row but failed to get in the top placings, despite excellent coxing from Jamie Leppard who is one of our up and coming coxswains. We were also represented by a Senior Mens crew of Sam Smith, Craig Hoveman, Sam Milton & Marc Alderman who started well but finished down in the placings. Folkestone Rowing Club would like to say a very big thanks to Thames Rowing Club for lending us a top-class boat, and also to all our supporters who travelled to Devon and cheered us on.

Dave Rumbold, (Club Captain - 2006)