OLYMPIC fever is in the air and so Dart Masters rolled into Lyme Regis for their over-60s rowing championship on May 18, blasting any jokes about dinosaurs and fossils out of the water.

With conditions of broken cloud and no more than an 8-knot westerly breeze producing a benign sea state, the competitors on Monmouth Beach probably thought the triangular “Kite” course in itself would present little challenge.

Dart men took all issues in their stride and managed third in their heat, racing against local rivals Brixham. The woman finished in a creditable sixth in their race against nine other crews.

The course had to be re-jigged and the men came eighth in the finals, whilst the women won silver in a nail-biting “Plate” final.

It was, however, in the mixed event that Dart shone, missing out on a podium finish by mere seconds.

A special mention goes out to the cox Helen who stood out in spite of the usual anonymity in rowing.