Madog Ladies are on the crest of a wave
CHAMPIONS Menai Bridge continued their strong start to the Gwynedd and Anglesey Summer League season with a 34-16 victory over Pwllheli.
The Division One title holders were always in control.
Player of the match for Bridge was Gemma Thomas, with Vicky Doodson named best for Pwll.
Arfon Ladies were similarly dominant against Menai Mavericks in recording a 36-15 win.
PoM: Arfon - Claire Roberts; Mavericks - Charlotte Lewis.
Arfon Celts edged a tight one against Primos 12-11.
Celts took the first 6-1, but led just 8-7 at half time.
It was 10-10 entering the last with the Arfon side just shading it in the end.
PoM: Celts - Elinor Lomax; Primos - Lowri Elena.
In a higher-scoring encounter, Holyhead took the spoils 27-22 against Penygroes Ladies.
PoM: Penygroes - Elin Evans; Holyhead - Katherine Chin.
Division Two action saw North West Wildcats triumph 25-15 against Holyhead Juniors.
PoM: Holyhead - Cara Williams; Wildcats - Cadi Hughes.
Walis came out on top 28-20 against Red Sox.
PoM: Walis - Elli Johnstone; Red Sox - Kim Jones.
Menai Thunder enjoyed an emphatic 32-11 win against Porthmadog.
PoM: Thunder - Hannah Francis; Port - Amelia Mayo.
Pwllheli Subway whipped Valley Vixens 34-9. PoM: Subway - Cerys Studt; Vixens - Nat Cull.
MADOG MYC ladies pulled off a fantastic win at a recent event in Caernarfon. The crew were victorious during the second round of WSRA Northern League Rowing Races hosted by the Royal Welsh Yacht Club.
Clubs from as far afield as Aberdyfi and Conwy took part.
The ladies were first off, starting and finishing opposite the castle gatehouse, and taking a course that first headed west towards the golf club, before doubling back along the Menai Straits beyond the castle, with two final turns to cross the finish line heading west once more.
With an incoming tide and a freshening westerly breeze the 10 boats found the first leg hard work, but once round the first buoy, the conditions now favoured the rowers with the Celtic longboats fairly speeding along.
Having overtaken Ynys Môn just before the turn, Porthmadog ladies opened up a good lead on this second leg, which they maintained up to the third buoy turn.
The final short leg to the finish saw the boats once again fighting against the wind and the tide, with all the boats closing up as they battled against the conditions.
Madog senior ladies were first over the line in a hard fought race, followed by Ynys Môn seniors, and Beaumaris in third place, winning the veterans category. Madog ladies vets and ladies supervets both came second in their categories.
The men’s race followed a similar course, but with the first and second legs extended by about half a mile each.
Even though there were only eight boats, there was controversy at the start as a couple cut across others vying for a better line.
The men initially faced similar conditions to the ladies, but by the time they came to the final turn the wind had strengthened, whipping the waves and making it difficult for the rowers to consistently make a full stroke. The finish line could not come soon enough, and Aberdyfi senior men were first across, with Ynys Môn veterans second and Madog’s supervets in third, both winning their respective categories.
With the strengthening wind, the decision was made to shorten the course for the mixed race to a straight out and back.
The first leg proved to be just as tough with a very choppy sea adding to the difficulties, but on the return leg the boats were fairly surfing along taking advantage of the waves in what proved to be a very fast sprint to the finish. Of the 11 boats, Ynys Môn mixed seniors were first home, with Madog’s mixed seniors in second place. Ynys Môn mixed veterans were third with Madog mixed supervets in fourth, both category winners.
In the novices race, on a fairly short course, Borth were the winners with Madog a close second.
Thanks go to RWYC for their hospitality and organisation, and to Purple Moose Brewery for their sponsorship.