LOOE gig rowing club is on the crest of a wave, thanks to a successful recruiting policy.

The club hosted a friendly regatta in its own waters over the weekend.

Visiting clubs from Devon, Cornwall and Dorset took part in the event, with 22 crews taking to the water.

A medley of men's, women's mixed, veteran and youth teams contested the event and, behind the scenes, club officials are celebrating a rise in rowing popularity among youngsters.

Secretary Mike White said that the number of new recruits had soared since the club formed links with local schools.

White said that the number of club members had been dwindling.

But a recruiting drive in schools, plus the construction of a new clubhouse on the sea front had raised Looe's profile.

White said: "It's been phenomenal – I went down to training last night and there were 20 there. That's more than three crews.

"You get a few coming along to training and word gets around and it mushrooms."

The club was this week awarded a Sport England club mark for the quality of its junior coaching.

And White said: "We're only one of six clubs around here who's got it because of our junior coaching.

"Around 95 per cent of the youngsters who come down are local kids.

"We created new links around the town and it's paid off. What it's doing is safeguarding the future of the club."

Results

Looe Rowing Club's Regatta: Veterans: 1 Killigerran (Roseland) 21.57, 2 Pilgrim (Cattewater) 22.12, 3 Lantic (Fowey) 22.22

Under-14s: 1 Samphire (Looe) 4.46, 2 Lantic (Fowey) 5.01, 3 Speedwell (Rock) 5.44

Under-16s: 1 Lantic (Fowey) 3.04, 2 Samphire (Looe) 3.04.5, 3 Minadhou (Rame) 3.15

Men's A: 1 Irene Too (Falmouth) 14.14, 2 Mary Newman (Caradon) 14.30, 3 Taran (Mounts Bay) 14.35

Ladies A: 1 Killigerran (Roseland) 15.48, 2 Mary Newman (Caradon) 16.02, 3 Taran (Mounts Bay) 16.10

Men's B: 1 Mary Newman (Caradon) 15.05, 2 Irene Too (Falmouth) 15.17, 3 Killigerran (Roseland) 15.21

Ladies B: 1 Killigerran (Roseland) 16.46, 2 Taran (Mounts Bay) 17.03, 3 Lantic (Fowey) 17.16

Mixed: 1 Mary Newman (Caradon) 5.42, 2 Samphire (Looe) 5.51, 3 Teign Spirit (Teignmouth) 6.04