Last year, the all female crew of six 'The Cleddau Chief and Squaws', rowed twenty two miles down The River Thames in a Celtic Longboat and increasingly dishevelled fancy dress.  As well as completing the race, the crew raised £500 for The Paul Sartori Foundation.  This year, we have a team of ten and have doubled our target to £1,000!

This year, the team of ten will be entering two boats into the race.  The all female crew of six, 'Cleddau Cleopatras' will be rowing a Celtic Longboat and a Teifi Skiff will be rowed by 'The Kidnapped Cleopatras'.  This is a crew of two women and two men. The rowers will have a tough row on their hands, with two rowing at a time, with two oars each - this boat is a bit of a 'bottom breaker'! Rowers in both crews will swap seats with the coxswain and the passenger several times during the race - so no one is having an easy ride!

The team of ten consists of mixed rowing ability and ages, but all of the team are looking forward to this challenge! 
We have chosen The Paul Sartori Foundation as our charity because it carries out such excellent work in Pembrokeshire, providing palliative care in people’s homes. Many of the crew have a connection to their work in some way or another.

For more information or to follow our boats online on race day, visit http://www.greatriverrace.co.uk/.  We promise to share our experience with you via stories and photographic evidence (complete with daft costumes!) following the race on the 5th of September 2009. 

On behalf of all of the team - thank you for your support.

Cleddau Cleopatras:

Ceri Poole , Fiona Cutting, Jessica Palmer, Joan Palmer, Lisa Bowden, Michelle Copeman

The Kidnapped Cleopatras:

Claire Palmer, Mel Miles, Rob Nichol, Gareth Palmer