Winter came back with a bite last weekend as Dart Gig Club made their way to Saltash for probably the most gruelling of races to kick-start the 2015 season.

The Three Rivers is a six-mile

long-distance race that is a test of pure stamina and one's pain threshold, as it is not only the first row of the season but also the longest by far.

Conditions did not help the nerves as the bitter easterly wind delayed the start for 30 minutes, allowing everyone the time to contemplate what was ahead of them. Although the crews are put into heats, the race is based purely on your time from start to finish, ­making it open to anyone – tick tock, it's against the clock.

It was ladies first to start the day with a total of 64 crews heading to the start line to begin their various heats. The heat placements were based on last year's results and, by way of being so close last year, both the ladies'

A and B crews were alongside each other in heat two to add to the friendly rivalry.

With Tracey Sharam back in the stroke seat after a few years off, the A crew, in Volante, came in with a fantastic result of 13th overall in 59 minutes and 16 seconds. The B crew finished five minutes behind in 37th position in Smudger. The C crew were valiant in 57th, with novices Claire Coltrini and Linda Cann in the bow, who bravely took this race on as their first. Hopefully the blisters won't put them off.

The men came with just one crew, with their new stroke Adrian Bailey ­setting a strong stoke rate. This was Adrian and Rupert Kempley's first Three Rivers and they put in a fantastic effort. They came in 32nd in a time of 56 minutes, seven seconds, which is a brilliant result bearing in mind that the course was half a mile longer for everyone this year.

The Dart Gig Regatta on Easter Saturday is the next event, when Dart will host nine clubs. The Dart offers one of the best venues for spectators, as you can see the race end to end as it ­happens in front of your eyes on the river. The start line is opposite the Dart Yacht Club.

The crew members were Tracey Sharam, Ali Bland, Katharine Money, Halina Brown, Ella Chivers, Lucy Swash, Peta Chivers, Clare Thorp, Liz Moseley, Carol Squire, Bonnie Chivers, Karen Harvey, Maggie Russell, Hilary Bussell, Paula Hine, Wendy Jones, Claire Coltrini, Linda Cann, Adrian Bailey, Dave Sharam, Chris Gale, Rupert Kempley, Tony Doidge and Michael Brant-Mole; and coxes Colin Brown, Clare Thorp, Dave Sharam and Lance Worthington.