Llanion Warriors Rowing Club, based in Pembroke Dock, which has only been in existence since 2007, is celebrating the end of another enjoyable season, that came to an end on Saturday, September 7, with the annual Thames Marathon race, between Millwall slip and Ham (Richmond). Over 330 boats of all shapes and sizes turned up from across Europe for this annual rowing extravaganza, which year on year attracts a greater range of craft, competitors and costumes.

The club has enjoyed an excellent summer's competition in the WSRA coastal league (in good weather for a change) and this event usually provides the final and much anticipated challenge for an international field. Crews race the 23 miles along the Thames amongst a hugely colourful armada of craft of all shapes and sizes. Teams start to the sound of the starter's cannon, with most in either club kit or fancy dress. All pass the major sights along the river, including Tower Bridge, Tower of London, the Gerkhin, the Shard, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, London Eye, Kew, etc., and pass under 22 bridges, which all ring with the cheers of thousands of interested spectators and supporters, before disembarking at Ham Park for their well-earned refreshments and celebrations.

The club's two mixed teams were entered in the Celtic Longboat section of the fleet; the seniors came in 37th and second in class, whilst the Veterans came in 62nd and third in class, an excellent result for the two crews, who had worked so hard in windy conditions. (All of the results are posted on the event's website.)

Prior to the start of the league season, members had resolved to complete a Grand Slam of additional challenge events during the season, which included the Castle to Castle Race (13 miles between Beaumaris and Caernarvon Castles along the Menai Straits), the Cleddau Marathon (23 miles Dale to Haverfordwest), the Cork 'Ocean to City' (15 miles around Cork, Cobh and city) and the Great River Race (on the Thames).

With mission accomplished, everyone who had participated has reflected on the enjoyment of their personal experiences and achievements. Another notable success, involved crews from Wisemans Bridge, Llanstephan and Llanion, who landed and enjoyed hospitality on Caldey Island, with permission from the island's community council, on a beautiful sunny day in July.

Already the club is anticipating the major challenges outside league racing for 2014; these will include the Eddystone Challenge (28 miles from Plymouth around the Eddystone lighthouse and back), the biannual Celtic Challenge (100k race from Arklow (Eire) to Aberystwyth) in May, which we use to raise funds for local charities, the Great River Race, Cleddau Marathon, Caernarvon and finally our first league event at the club, as part of the Pembroke Dock bicentennial celebrations, due to take place in August.

The stimulus of such an exciting calendar certainly has already focused minds and should sustain motivation in training, even in the depths of winter. The club has a proud record of charitable fund-raising, having given £16.5k to local charities in the last six years and we are always looking for new sponsors, who wish to support local charities. If you are interested in being a sponsor, then please see contacts below (we will nominate and publicise charities to benefit this autumn).

We will be celebrating at our annual dinner, which again this year will be taking place at the Old Kings Arms Hotel, in Pembroke, in October. As always, we are very grateful to Norman and Shirley for their continued support of our club and their efforts to link us with our new sponsors at the Evan Evans Brewery (Llandeilo), Celtic Wines (Pembroke Dock) and Andrew Ress Butchers (Narberth), who have generously supported the club during 2013.

All of our members want to thank all of our sponsors, without whom we would be unable to purchase and maintain the equipment required to ensure we meet the requirements of our sport, year on year. These include:Ashdale Engineering and Lifting Services, Svitzer, Llanion Signs, The Old Kings Arms Hotel, Seven Spice, Evan Evans Brewery, Celtic Wines, East Llanion Boatyard, Kingswood Engineering, GRP Mouldings, Pembroke Power Station, MHPA, South Hook (LNG), Sealand Pembroke Ltd, Ledwood Mechanical Engineering, SFW Solutions (Cymru) Ltd, The Jolly Sailor (Burton), Westcoast Clothing, K & K Insurance, Andrew Rees Butchers (Narberth), Sunderland Trust, Heatherton, Cambrian Valves Ltd, Pembrkeshire Recycling, CG Plumbing, Young Bros, Eurosource Ltd, Wisebuys, Rhyals.

If anyone is intrigued enough to want to learn more, the WSRA (Welsh Sea Rowing Association) has its own website (just Google the full name), which carries a huge wealth of information, including, history of the league, fixtures, results, pictures from events, etc. We would suggest that this is a good way to become familiar with our sport.

The club is always looking for new members to join and enjoy the fun we have. The sport is open to all ages and race categories include, Under 18s/Seniors between 19-40 yrs/Veterans between 40-50 yrs and Supavets over 50 yrs. League races are held on Sundays and other challenge events usually on Saturdays, all fixtures are posted on the WSRA website in February.

If anyone is interested in trying the sport, then they should contact either Richard Jelley (01646 682204), Darrell Willington (07966 182122 / [email protected]">[email protected]), or Myra Alford (07768516248).

In the spring, summer and autumn months we train on Wednesday (meet 6.15 pm), Friday (6.15 pm) and Sundays (meet 8.15 am) meeting at the East Llanion boatyard gates on Warrior Way (Pembroke Dock); winter training times can differ and we always try to take opportunities to train at sea, but all training is dictated by weather conditions, as we take safety very seriously. A lot of information is generally notified to members via our Facebook page, look for the Llanion Warriors page, which carries a lot of historical content as well.

In the near future, the club will be looking to open up opportunities for young people to gain an insight and practical experience of our sport, with the express intention of fostering a younger section in the club to cement its future for generations to come.

We wish all our league rivals a well-earned winter rest (that is for those who do), happy Christmas and New Year celebrations, and look forward to locking horns again next year.

D.W.