BRIDPORT Gig Club’s under-14s took a superb fourth place in the junior championships in Hayle, Cornwall, and also won a cup for best sportsmanship.

The youngest crew member, Thea Carpenter, is aged 12, and Bridport’s Junior crew have won all four regattas this season.

Bridport Junior crew made the 144-mile journey and borrowed a boat from one of the 34 native Cornish clubs they were racing against.

The crew were placed in the second heat against Cadgwith E and Newquay B and they won – their winning streak would only build throughout the day.

The championships is a special experience for the rowers because it is exclusively under-14s, and after the win against Cadgwith and Newquay, the club had a long rest, as they were not rowing again until the 12th heat.

Their second race of the day yielded much the same results with another win, this time against Helford and Mevagissey.

Not long after the second race, the crew faced the quarter finals and their hardest race yet.

Although it was the hardest race so far, Bridport still managed to win again, this time against Cadgwith A and Mevagissey.

Had Bridport won their semi final, they would have been in the running to win the whole championships, but unfortunately they were edged out by Rame by mere seconds, for a final result of fourth out of 35 clubs.

The atmosphere of the championships was an incredible hive of activity and noise, which only added to the anticipation of the races and the fun of the day for the rowers.

At the end of the day, there was the awards ceremony, straight after the finals.

At the ceremony the Bridport rowers were awarded with a cup for best sportsmanship and Bridport Gig Club won for doing the most to promote junior rowing, which made us very proud.

BGRC are hosting Bridport’s regatta and after party from 10am until late, at West Bay on Saturday.