A busy year at the bridge (From Western Telegraph)

A busy year at the bridge

10:00am Monday 15th October 2012 in Sport

Wisemans Bridge Rowing Club (WBRC) has completed the busiest season in its 19 year existence.

The 2012 season began in January, as opposed to the usual start in April.

This was due to the small matter of racing 100 miles across the Irish Sea in the Bi- Annual Celtic Challenge.

Overall, 24 boats entered, but only 12 completed this year’s arduous race, with Wisemans Bridge finishing tenth in a time of 25 hours 18 minutes.

Once the dust had settled, a charity night was arranged to celebrate completing the race at Saundersfoot Sailing Club. The club were joined by members of Llanion Warriors Rowing Club who had helped the team train for the event, with more than £2,000 raised for the RNLI and Paul Sartori Foundation.

Historically, WBRC have tended not to actively race in the Welsh Sea Rowing Association league. 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.

The club travelled as far afield as Porthmadog and Anglesey in North Wales.

Despite the inclement weather, WBRC came away with a mix of results, including a first for the ladies at Gelliswick, and a third straight successful defence of the Milford Marathon 23 mile mixed team trophy.

Then all eyes turned to London for the highlight of the rowing calendar, the Annual London Great River Race, 21 miles past some of the world’s most iconic sites.

WBRC entered three boats for this rowing extravaganza, and those involved did the club proud with a mix of results from tenth to 27th out of a field of 44 celtic longboats.

In addition to all this activity Karl Watson, of Heritage Park, has sponsored a second of the club boats ‘Ready Oar Knot’ and DragonLNG also supported us during the season.

Members have also thanked Robert Kemble of The Wisemans Bridge Inn for his on-going support.

Next season will be the club’s 20th birthday, and plans are already afoot for events in the preliminary stages, including a race event from Wisemans Bridge to Tenby and another long distance challenge, rowing around the Pembrokeshire Coast starting in Cardigan and finishing in Amroth.

For more information on the club, visit www.wisemansbridgerowingclub.

co.uk.