During its 19 years on the water, never has there been so much activity for Wiseman's Bridge Rowing Club (WBRC est. 1993).

The 2012 season started on January 2 compared to our normal sluggish April appearance.

The reason for this was the small matter of racing 100 miles across the Irish Sea in the Bi-Annual Celtic Challenge, in which 24 boats entered, but only 12 completed this year's arduous race with Wiseman's Bridge finishing 10th in a time of 25 hours 18 minutes!

Once the dust had settled, a charity night was arranged to celebrate completing the race, this was held at Saundersfoot Sailing Club, where we have had some interclub dart social events throughout the year.

An excellent night unfolded where members, friends and family from both clubs and Llanion Warriors Rowing Club who had helped us train for the event had a fantastic time, with the final total for charity raised in excess of £2,000 being split between RNLI and Paul Sartori Foundation.

Historically, WBRC have tended not to actively race in the Welsh Sea Rowing Association league, just turning up occasionally and enjoying a day out, as we consider ourselves more a social rowing club. But this year off the back of the Celtic Challenge and with many new members, WBRC competed in a record number of WSRA league races throughout the spring and summer, taking in races from many clubs in the county and some as far afield as Porthmadog and Anglesey in North Wales.

Even with the terrible weather this summer, WBRC came away with a mix of results, including a first for our ladies at Gelliswick, and a third straight successful defence of the Milford Marathon 23-mile mixed team trophy.

So with the race season almost over, all eyes turned to London, not for the Olympics or the Jubilee but for the highlight of the rowing calendar, the Annual London Great River Race - 21 miles past some of the world's most iconic sites.

September 2012 saw WBRC enter three boats for this rowing extravaganza, our biggest ever team outing anywhere! And with many of the crew being London GRR virgins, it was going to be an exciting weekend.

Going to London does not just happen, the logistics and organisation to arrange 18 rowers, three x 8 metre Celtic longboats, trailers, equipment, towing vehicles, into the heart of London takes many hours of planning, 'phone calls, e-mails and shouting. So a big thanks to Marja, Neil, Capt Mark and Phil Griffith, the club's chairman, for sorting us all out.

Again, WBRC did us proud with a mix of results from a 10th place to a 27th out of a field of 44 Celtic longboats, and even with all the blisters, everyone still had energy to dance and sing at the after-party!

In addition to all this activity, Karl Watson from Heritage Park, an exclusive property development near Wiseman's Bridge (http://www.heritageparkpembrokeshire.co.uk">www.heritageparkpembrokeshire.co.uk) has sponsored a second of the club boats 'Ready Oar Knot'. Thanks also to DragonLNG for also supporting us during the season.

Also thanks for the on-going support of Mr. R. Kembell from The Wiseman's Bridge Inn and the enthusiasm and hard work from all the club members new and old, as none of this could have been achieved without them, and the most important development for the club in recent years being the club website http://www.wisemansbridgerowingclub.co.uk">www.wisemansbridgerowingclub.co.uk which is designed and maintained by club member Peter Godwin (http://www.mouseklix.co.uk">www.mouseklix.co.uk).

So what's next for the men and women of WBRC ? With 2013 being our 20th birthday, plans are already afoot with some events in the preliminary stages, including a race event from Wiseman's Bridge to Tenby and another long distance challenge, rowing around the Pembrokeshire Coast starting in Cardigan and finishing in Amroth. Watch this space!