The Blades started the Exe-Calibre campaign by improving their 200m time by nearly 2 seconds between their first and second race, settling their pre-race nerves and gelling as a crew. The Open logged the 3rd fastest heat time in their 200m, were beaten by an exceptionally strong home team from Notts Anaconda in their semi, and drew the infamous lane 3 for their minor final, meaning that barring a miracle, they would not be able to get better than third place. However, it was a third place in real style, with a confident and assured performance giving a time which was just 0.5 seconds slower than Batchworth who had also had to settle for third place in the major final in lane 3!

The Blades began their 500m races with a confident performance and a great time of 2 min 12.14 sec - despite the ongoing headwind and waves almost as big as London. Will we have a wind-free league event again soon? They pulled out an almost identical time for their second 500m, superbly consistent in their racing, and then pulled out a fantastic win against Typhoon with a time that was 3 seconds faster! As drummer in this race, the boat felt strong, committed, powerful and together - I could visibly see the determination and grit (lovely race faces guys!) and it was a pleasure to watch Typhoon fade away while us Excalibites didn't even drop the pace. Brilliant! A real testament to all that winter training. Great work by Emma and Jo as strokes for the Blades.

The Open crew powered their way to the third fastest heat time (1 min 55.80 sec) and despite improving this time by over 2 seconds in their semi, the sling shot effect of lane one proved too much, with Kingston Royals snatching the coveted major final place by the blink of an eye (0.4 sec). The minor final saw some compensation with an emphatic win, in a time that was quicker than both the 2nd and 3rd placed teams in the major final. All is fair in love, war and dragon boat racing!!

The final race of the day saw the gorgeous Exe-Calibre Maidens, proudly sponsored by Purple, lining up against the Kingston Pink Ladies and a composite team of a few other crews. These Maidens were exceptionally unladylike and thoroughly thrashed Kingston Ladies (yes, by one whole second!) who suffered their first defeat for many years. It sure did feel good, and we've got another lovely trophy for the (soon to be found) cabinet. Rachel was finally silenced when the Cox box ran out of charge, but Hayley's war cries and 'kick arse' calls spurred us on, especially "Chins and T***!".

So, league points won and phrases like 'OMG, we've got Exe-Calibre in our heat' overheard, with more mutterings about drug testing and 'something in the water in Exeter'.

Many, many thanks go to everyone involved:

The Exe-Calibre members who could not go, but are there at training so we can all paddle and get better;

Rachel and Sparky for awesome helming and collecting lots of verbal warnings!

The amazing Chris Murray for driving the love bus 'all the way from Exeter, and back'.

Hayley and Tracey for drumming the Open crew;

Lisa and Simon for drumming the Blades crew;

Lauren for organising the accommodation;

Ed for sorting all the cash;

Amanda Purple for being a great crew manager for Blades;

Grahame who dragged the boats 'all the way from Exeter, and back'.

All the volunteers who set up boats, gazebos, etc., and ran warm-ups and cool-downs;

And of course to everyone who 'Paddled Like Fury'.