BRIDPORT Gig Rowing club won their first Jurassic League regatta of the season at Weymouth.

It was a gloriously sunny day and Weymouth looked at her finest with her grand Victorian esplanade as the regatta backdrop.

The sea conditions were perfect, flat and calm. Bridport’s squad of 50 men, women and junior rowers came together to battle it out with their neighbours Lyme Regis, Weymouth and 10 other clubs including Bristol and Teign.

In the ladies’ races, Bridport dominated but in the men’s races it was Lyme Regis.

Overall, Bridport took the regatta on the last race.

At the awards ceremony, the roll call of Bridport or Lyme taking trophies was broken up with a big round of applause for Langstone Gig Club, who came first in the mixed race.

At times, the races were furious and hard fought but Bridport came first in the under-14s, ladies’ A, B and C and ladies’ veterans.

Bridport came second in men’s A and ladies’ supervets, third in men’s C and men’s veterans as well as fourth in the men’s supervets and a mixed squad of male and female rowers.

The men’s B squad were also an admirable fifth.

Bridport ladies’ development crew were also on their maiden voyage.

Made up entirely of new rowers, Weymouth Regatta was their first outing and they were coxed by Carol Marsh.

Her development squad came a very impressive eighth place and thoroughly enjoyed their first experience together.

Gig rowing is a really friendly sport, with Portland Gig Club kindly lending their boat to the new ladies.

Bridport Gig Club very much welcomes new members, men, women and children from the age of 12.

If you come with a family, bring them along too, gig rowing can be very much a family affair, with one family having three generations of rowers.