Clare Thorpe reports: " The weather was once again fantastic for Dart gig club's lay-up race. The race is traditionally held at the end of the season, before the wooden gigs are put away for the winter, as they need to dry out so as to be competitive on the racing circuit. The race is held in memory of the late Lyzie Pyne who died from cancer nine years ago and actually requested that her gig rowing friends do this in her memory. (The giggers provide the effort and Lyzie seems always to provide the sunshine as it is invariably a fine day.)

Traditionally the women row up the river and the men row back after a stop at the Ferry Boat inn at Dits’um for a pint or two. Only five gigs came this year as the event had to be rescheduled after a forecast of bad weather (which didn’t materialize!).  Salcombe won both races with Dart giving them a run for their money in the ladies race. Paignton, interestingly, took part for the first time this year and gave an excellent account of themselves. After the racing was over the crews adjourned to the Floating Bridge for a prize giving ceremony and some food which had been arranged by the club.

Dart's main event for 2009 will take place on the 11th April, which is Easter Saturday. The club's thanks go out to the Higher Ferrymen, the Dittisham Ferrymen, for their seamanlike cooperation and also to Dart Harbour for allowing access to the river especially as the event had to be rescheduled.

The winners!

This evening (Thursday) Dartmouth Film Society is showing The Counterfeiters, winner of the 2008 Academy Award for best foreign film. This clever and compelling film is a true story based on a memoir written by Adolf Burger, one of the film's main characters.

Karl Markovics plays Salomon (Sally) Sorowitsch, a Jewish master counterfeiter who lives a fast life of women, cards and forged cash in Berlin.

October 27th - 31st  Halloween Fright Week
Trick & Treat Hunts, Fiendish Beasties, Workshop to make sweets & treats, Ghoulish Tractor Ride and Ghost Train free pumpkins & Pumpkin carving competition

31st October Halloween Party Time
The Spooky party with Spangles the Clown, free pumpkins & Pumpkin carving competition, Ghoulish Tractor Ride and Ghost Train, Workshop to make sweets & treats, Trick & Treat Hunt, Fiendish Beasties. Come in Fancy Dress, competition with cash prizes 3 age groups each 1st £15, 2nd £10, 3rd £5.00. Wicked Witch of the Woods lantern lit procession

The guys from the Picnic Boat report:  Come on board for a glass of wine or local cider to wash down a warm pasty or some home made soup and a crusty roll.  This one hour cruise will lift your sprits, bring some friends?

Call the crew on 07863 123806 or click here to visit their website.  Oh, and it will cost you a lot less than some lunches!

• Thursday October 23rd – Lamb Tagine £8.50 and a glass of wine.  Fat local autumn lamb, slowly cooked with Moroccan spices and served with spicy harissa, mint yoghurt and homemade flatbreads, washed down with a glass of wine.
  To book please call 01803 832572 Browns Hotel
   
• Isn't Dartmouth wonderful?  Take last Sunday, breakfast at the Food Festival  then help our friend Kevin Pyne by providing a boat for the Western Morning News photographer.  Potter up to Dittisham for a pint, back to Dartmouth for a Hog roast lunch.  Jump in the boat a leisurely run up to Stoke Gabriel for afternoon tea.  Wonderful, you can do this too, either use the Picnic Boat or hire a small boat, click here for details.