GUERNSEY’S men finished first, second and third in the annual Sark to Jersey rowing race on Saturday.
However, while the sliding seat men’s fours of Guernsey FRM won, followed by the Sarnian pairing of Joseph Paul and Paul Isaacs, who shattered the old pairs record by a full three minutes to win their race in 1 hr 55 min 33 sec, what Jersey menfolk could not do, the women’s Islands Insurance fours could.
Captain Christine Pallot, Helen Tyler, Alison Smithurst, Frankie Le Quélénec and cox Jane Hibbs were the first women’s team home in a time of 2 hr 17 min 44 sec but did not realise that they had won the Snip Guille Trophy and the Viberts Jersey Lawyers Trophy until a full minute after they had stopped rowing.
‘When we set off there was a Guernsey ladies’ fours in front of us,’ said experienced rower Le Quélénec afterwards. ‘But then we lost sight of them and when we got to the Pats (the Paternosters) what normally happens is that you’re shown whether you’re in the lead or not. We were some way out and no-one signalled to us, so we presumed the Guernsey boat was still ahead.’
Article posted on 1st September, 2008 - 3.00pm
Most Commented: