The idea of a Tenby Pub N Club League has been on Tenby Rowing Club's agenda for sometime. This year it was put into practice. Pubs and clubs in Tenby were asked if they would like to compete in a rowing league hosted and organised by the club. The idea took off and at one stage there were 15 teams training regularly with the rowing club for the race that would be held in August. Those teams which had survived the training process met on South Beach on Sunday, August 12, and were briefed about the day ahead. Volunteer crews then rowed the Celtic Longboats round to the Mayor's Slip in the harbour where an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation began to develop. Teams and their supporters, with their refreshments, gathered and watched the event unwind. Teams from the Bush Inn, Tenby Ex-Service Club, the National Park, the Fire Brigade and the Pembrokeshire Ambulance Service all took part, competing for cash prizes and trophies to hang up in their pubs, clubs offices etc. and to defend next year. The event was a complete success and the weather was... Welsh. The teams had to race from the mouth of Tenby Harbour to a very patient, anchored boat off Waterwynch. The ladies' category was first to race, with two teams from the Ex-Service Club and one from the Bush Inn. When the starter flag went down the senior Ex-Service Club ladies got off to a fine start, which gave them the initial lead, but by the halfway turning point off Waterwynch they had been overhauled by their colleagues from the club and the 'Bush Babes', who turned ahead of them. The return leg against a head breeze was a test of stamina for the ladies. The race turned into a sprint for the line between the 'Bush Babes', coxed by Matthew Tebbutt and the Ex-Service Club's team, 'Fast and Furious', coxed by Frank Miller. As both boats entered the final yards to the finish, an unexpected ambulance siren and horn led the 'Bush Babes' to conclude that they had crossed the line first and consequently they slowed down prior to crossing the line and were 'pipped at the post' by 'Fast and Furious', who kept up their momentum until the end. Despite the mix-up, the judges' final decision was that the first boat over the line had to be the winner. Consequently, the class winners trophy and £100 cash prize were awarded to the Ex-Service Club girls. A well-deserved second prize of £50 went to the 'Bush Babes' and the third prize of £25 was awarded to the gallant ladies of the senior Ex- Service Club team. The next race was the mixed category where the National Park had entered a team which had been training for a considerable amount of time, enabling them to challenge the 'Medic Mushrooms', a team from the Ambulance Service, which was depleted by shift work commitments, but made up to full strength by members of the Tenby club. After the boats lined up at the mouth of the harbour, the start flag was lowered and the 'Medic Mushrooms' got off to a flying start and led the race until the turning point off Waterwynch. The National Park team benefited from a better turn and made ground on the 'Medic Mushrooms', a good boat length ahead. However, while approaching the finish line, the 'Medic Mushrooms' summoned reserve energy for a final push and they did begin to gain and close the gap. To keep the 'Medics' at bay, the Park's team fought off the challenge with 20 hard strokes, gaining a boat's length from the 'Medics'. After a close race, the Park's team pulled away and over the finish line, with the 'Medic Mushrooms' no more than a boat length behind them. Therefore, the National Park team received £100 and a trophy, which they will be defending next year, while the 'Medic Mushrooms' received a second prize of £50. Congratulations to both teams on an exciting race. When the start flag went down for the men's race, the 'Boys from The Bush' took the lead from the start against a crew from the Fire Brigade, whose duties had prevented them from taking part in any training sessions. Nevertheless, the Fire Brigade boat managed to stay within half-of-a-boat's length of The Bush team until the Waterwynch turn, where 'The Boys from the Bush' training paid dividends by giving them a better turn which improved their lead. However, during the long leg against the breeze, the Fire Brigade made gains on the leaders and at one stage it seemed possible that they might overhaul their rivals. But 'The Boys from the Bush' held on to their lead and finished triumphantly, some 10 strokes of the oar ahead. The 'Boys from the Bush' were thus declared the winners, receiving their winner's trophy and a cash prize of £100. The Fire Brigade well deserved their £50 second prize and surprised the assembled crowd by promptly donating it to the Tenby rowers. All in all, the Pubs and Clubs League event has been a considerable success. All participants expressed their enjoyment and there was a large and appreciative crowd on the Mayor's Slip, the harbour wall and the North Walk. The Tenby rowers confirm that there will be repeat events in the years to come, which will allow this year's winners to defend their trophies and give future contestants the opportunity to experience both the trials and the pleasures of sea rowing. The success of the event was due largely to the energy and commitment of the participating teams and to the dedication of members of the Tenby rowers, who provided skills training for the teams and support on the day of the event. Special thanks are due to Mike Bullock, of E Support Services, who have been the rowing teams' main club sponsor for the last two years and have provided unfailing support and encouragement to the rowers and put up all the prize money for the Pubs and Clubs event. Thanks are also due to Gary James for coming up with the idea of a Pubs and Clubs League and for making the trophies, to Diane and Stan for engraving the plaques on the trophies, and to Ed Dashfield and friend for providing last-minute safety cover and turning mark for the event. Also due a special mention are the ladies teams from both the Ex-Servicemen's Club and the Bush Inn, who between them raised nearly £2,000 in sponsorship for local charities. Last but not least, a special thank you goes to Tim Deere-Jones for organisation on the day and the days leading up to the event. Thank you from all the club members and teams.