IT IS called “The Hell on The Tamar” and The Three Rivers Race is certainly no event for the shrinking violet. If you imagine a typical Gig regatta as an opportunity to indulge in a little sunbathing at a quaint Cornish seaside village - with the odd bout of racing thrown in - then this hard endeavour is not for you.

The Three Rivers is a brutal endurance test. Starting beneath the harsh engineering of the Brunel Bridge and contemplating an hour’s exertion over six and a half choppy miles of the Tamar, Lynher and Tavy the 1200 participants in this year’s edition could be forgiven a quaking heart.

Dart, however, have always enjoyed this event and fielded four crews for the day, giving “Volante” and “Lightning” a good workout on the turbulent and challenging water, fortunately though breezy the sky was clear and Saltash at times could almost be mistaken for a Mediterranean resort.

The female crews got the show on the road at 12.00 starting in rolling waves of Gigs presenting an awesome spectacle to onlookers.

Steering skills were to the fore for coxswains weaving for maximum advantage and encouraging crews to maximum power output. Dart’s women have been training hard over winter at both ergs and on the river and every ounce of this was required to compete against the cream of the Gig fleet.

At the halfway point recrossing beneath the thundering road bridge both Dart boats could be seen to be progressing with style despite aching limbs.

Volante at this point was in battle with “The Spirit of Langstone” the Falmouth Vets, but just managed to hold these awesome and venerable ladies off for 23rd place, Lightning cruised over the line some minutes later in 50th pursuing “Bolster” from St. Agnes all the way to the tape.

Both Open crews started in the same wave at 2.00pm giving some inter-club spice to the opening stages. A strong turn at the Tavy buoy allowed the vets to pull away from their younger rivals, they finished 23rd hotly pursued by “Isolde” from Weymouth.

The younger crew, fielding some, newcomers, finished a creditable 28th out of 91 chasing “Q” of Fowey, a storied and famously powerful contender all the way to the final bridge.

This combined achievement of the club was satisfying and despite the inevitable soreness a great time was had by all.