Shobrooke Park played host to the 12 teams which took part in this year's Regatta, part of the 2009 Crediton Festival.

Over a 100 competitors took part in the racing with many more getting the chance to get afloat in between races.

"It was great to see so many people having fun on the water," said event organiser Richard Ward.

"The age of those taking part ranged from two to 77 years making it an event for the whole family and that's what many of the teams were!"

"Eye of Thundera" a Devon PCT team were crowned champions of the 2009 Crediton Bell Boat Regatta.

In a thrilling five boat Grand Final they held off a determined challenge from the "Crediton Vikings", a team containing some former Kirton Round Tablers' captained by Ian Sneddon, to take first place by less than one second.

In the Plate final the "Clotted Cream Teas" a Cheriton/Goodman crew lead the way from the "Left Right Lefts" a QE Year 9 all girls team.

And in the Spoon Final the Sandford based Cornish Pirates lead by Captain Steve Nicholl pipped local team the "Frank Spencers" into second place.

Once the main races were over the VIP event gave a chance for the volunteers who ran the event to pit their wits and strength against two other scratch teams and Tom Sharpe, the Exeter CC ace, paddling a single kayak.

Sharpe who finished ninth in last years marathon kayak world championships gave the teams 30 seconds head start and still won with clear water to spare – who knows what happened to the others!

Thanks go to QECC Canoe Club and Exeter Canoe Club for putting on the event and also to the many helpers involved in making the day a great success.

A special mention goes to Philip Harvey who was part of the team who collected and returned the Bell Boats from Plymouth, but was not able to take part in the event!

Results - finals: Race 11 – The Spoon: 1 Cornish Pirates 1:33, 2 Frank Spencers 1:36, 3, Dowrich Doblers 1:47, 4 The Animals 1:52.

Race 12 – The Plate: 1 Clotted Cream Teas 1:32, 2 Left Right Left 1:36, 3 Shobrooke Cheetas 1:50.

Race 13 – The Cup: 1 Eye of Thundera 1:19, 2 Crediton Vikings 1:20, 3 Sustins of Southcombe 1:29, 4 Scratchers 1:30, 5 Stoneshill 1:31.

VIP Race: 1 Tom Sharpe, 2 Exeter CC, 3 Sandford Dads, 4 Sandford Mums.