This year, Wisemans Bridge Rowing Club entered two teams for the highlight of the racing year, the Great River Race, 22 miles of gruelling rowing from the Isle of Dogs to Ham on the river Thames.

The ladies team consisted of Cleo, Helen Jenks, Tina, Sparker, Sian and Elen, who had spent much of the season rowing together, honing their technique and style.

The gents, Phil T., John, Simo, Neil, Brent and Mark, had struggled to get together during the season and were aware that the ladies could prove a real threat to their pride and cross the line before them.

Added to their lack of race practice, half the men had gone down with heavy colds, Brent was suffering with raging toothache and Mark was jet-lagged with no idea of where he was most of the time, having just flown back from Singapore.

The boats took to the road early Friday morning and arrived safely in London with no hitches; and bright and early the next morning the teams were on their way to meet their fate.

On arrival at the Isle of Dogs, the teams were busy sizing up the opposition, several of which were dressed in sporty one piece rowing kit in sharp contrast to the Wisemans' day-glow headbands and leggings. More worrying, they were huddled in groups, scowling with concentration as they discussed tactics.

With so many other boats on the water, it was a frantic start to the race, but both boats managed to steer clear of any serious trouble.

With a clear start, it was not long before the two teams started to cut through the field, with the boys' boat slightly ahead of the ladies.

After a few miles, the river cut up rough around Tower Bridge, and to add to this, the headwind picked up and the heavens opened.

Both boats were taking water over the bow, soaking everyone and almost swamping the men's boat, who never did manage to bail out all the offending water.

Once clear of the choppy water, both crews got into a good rhythm, only broken by the planned changes of crew as the teams alternated between rowing, coxing and being passenger.

With several other Celtic Longboats in contention, neither crew could afford to slacken the pace and managed to overtake some very strong teams and maintain their position.

Both teams used every ounce of energy, putting in very strong finishes, with the men just failing to take another scalp at the finish line.

At the end of the race, both crews were truly exhausted, but their efforts reflected in the fantastic finishing times: men - two hours 36 minutes, giving them seventh place in the men's Celtic Longboat class; ladies - two hours 41 minutes, which won them second place in the ladies' Celtic Longboat class and third overall in the ladies' race.

As always, there was a lot to organise to take part in an event like this, with a big thanks to John and Neil for towing the boats, Helen for filling in all the forms and booking the hotel, Cleo, who seems to do all the jobs everyone else forgets, and Simon for fitting the new trailer bearings. Also thanks to the familiar faces in the crowd, cheerleaders Sandra, Dawn, Glen, Natalie and Amy.

July saw another busy time for the rowing club, but this time it was one of their boats doing all the hard work!

A Pembrokeshire Challenge took place where a team of six men decided to raise funds for the Autistic Trust and row 50 miles round the Pembrokeshire coast in two days. The club were delighted to be able to lend them one of their boats to use, which was duly returned exhausted, but in one piece, so well done to the boys for their fantastic achievement.

As usual, all thanks go too for the support and kind donations from Karl Watson, of Stepaside Heritage Park, and the Kemble family for use of their premises.

The website will soon be posting details of plans for winter rowing, so please free to take a look and even go along one day. You can find them at wisemansbridgerowingclub.co.uk.