On Saturday, Tenby's Sea Rowing Club sent the Reggae Boys up to Cardiff to compete in the annual race down the River Taff. As usual, many teams turned up to compete in the gruelling eight-mile leg, which started opposite the Millennium Stadium and finished in Cardiff Bay. There were many types of boats present, not only Celtic longboats, but many fly water boats from various clubs, schools and universities entered. There were six longboats in all, one being a mixed class, while the other five were men's senior, including the Tenby team, Reggae Boys, and one gig manned by six crew. After the cox's briefing at 12.30, all the teams set about rowing up from Cardiff Bay to the starting position by the Millennium Stadium, which took at least half-an-hour. This was useful as a warm-up, but once all the boats had lined up (and Tenby was the last), the cold started to hit the Reggae Boys. It was especially hard when nature called and hunger struck, and with the Brains brewery just a tempting 10-minute row down the river, there was consideration of mutiny. This was crushed by fitness fanatic cox, Chris Terry, an inspiration to everyone. After waiting for about two hours at the start and an extra 30 minutes for the other boats to set off - there was 20 seconds between each boat - the Celtic longboat class drew closer to the bridge, up river from the stadium, where the starting buoy was placed. Reggae Boys started the row on a high, an it soon warmed them up, even when the heavens opened. They pulled strong and soon started to hunt down their first target - the men's seniors from Neyland. Then, staying focused and determined, they kept up a respectable stroke of 32 a minute, making much ground and approaching another boat, the well-known Llangwm mixed team being in range. At this point, lactic acid began to build up in their muscles. With Llangwm still in sight, they passed under 'The Big Bridge' in Cardiff Bay and learnt, even though in the bay, the Celtic longboats had to row the whole bay, so half of the race still lay ahead. However, the coaching and tactical positioning from the cox kept them going as he shouted: "Just remember, it will end, not yet... pain is there to make you feel alive... it will end!" At this point, they made a sharp turn to row the face of the bay, the wind and rain pounding their port side and making Chris use rudder to keep them going straight; in effect they were rowing against a brake. The second and final turn meant that the wind was behind them, and the Reggae Boys could now perform their 'London finish'. Summoning all their strength, they pulled hard. Llangwm mixed were still just ahead, but they began to gain, only to hear the finishing horn for Llangwm and seconds after, their own horn sounded the end of the lactic build up. The first race of the season, and respectable results for the Reggae Boys. Third position out of the five men's senior, nine seconds behind Llangwm mixed and an incredible two minutes behind the winning boat and the winning boat of London 2006, Trireme Ynys Mon, Anglesey, coxed by Tenby rowing club's Frank Miller -well done. Reggae Boys would like to thank Frank for beating them (someone had too), Teresa Miller for support, Chris Terry for outstanding coxing and coaching and Liz and Izzy Terry for morale support. If anyone is interested in having a try out in the longboats, please contact Tim on (01834) 871011, Gary James on (01834) 843999 or Matt Tebbutt on (01834) 845625.
