GUERNSEY’S Thames River Capital boat won the Jersey Post 40th Sark to Jersey rowing race. The men’s fours team completed Saturday’s 14-mile course in a time of 2hr 4min. 30sec.

‘It felt fantastic when we crossed the line,’ said team member Sam de Kooker, 23.

‘It was a great relief to get there. It’s the first race we’ve won all season.

‘And it was a big deal considering it was the 40th one as well.’

His younger brother Tom, Matt Burns, Mark Bousfield and cox Katie Leafe joined de Kooker in the winning boat.

But despite the choppy sea, all the 45 boats that lined up at the start in Dixcart Bay in Sark crossed the finishing line at Bonne Nuit harbour on Jersey’s north coast.

‘It was a hard slog,’ said Sam de Kooker.

‘It was very sloppy and our boat was very lively. Our stroke, Matt Burns, almost fell out a couple of times.

‘It made the race go quickly as we had to concentrate, but it

wasn’t a quick time.’

The new champions finished 1min. 52sec. ahead of the Jersey pair of John Searson and Paul Le Gros. Another Jersey pairing – Ian Blandin and James Ramsden in their Crusade Laboratories vessel – took third.

Thames River Capital took full advantage of the Nova Group not taking part in the race. The latter are undoubtedly the top fours outfit in the Channel Islands but they were missing due to a wedding.

‘The pairs from Jersey are very quick and I thought they would have had us in those conditions,’ said de Kooker.

‘The French team that finished fourth are very quick as well. I think Nova would have probably beaten us but you never know.

‘You’ve got to be in it to win it.’

The first women across the line were the Moore Stephens fours team from Jersey.

Brian Staples, who has competed in every race, came ninth with his Hash Anchors colleagues Tony Plumridge, Peter Garfield, John Pritchard and cox Stuart Horsepool.