Gareth Rowland who lives with his family in Mablethorpe and who is currently the President of the Rotary Club of Alford and Mablethorpe has been selected to represent Great Britain in the World Sand Yacht Racing Championships which take place in Patagonia, Argentina in February 2008.

Fifty year old Gareth is the owner of the Holivans Caravan Park in Mablethorpe and has been competing in both sand and ice yacht racing for almost 30 years, he is a previous British and European Sand Yacht champion and has always been highly placed in competitions throughout his racing carer, he has travelled extensively throughout Europe and even as far as New Zealand pursuing his sport.

In addition to his sand racing career he also competes extensively in ice yacht racing, he thinks nothing of hitching up his yacht and driving into the Arctic Circle to take part in competitive races and has been well placed in several European Championships.

Argentina is hosting the world championships for the first time this year; Gareth has already towed his racing yacht to Holland where it has been shipped and is already on its way to Argentina. Around the end of January he will commence the 17 hour flight to Buenos Aries, followed by a 3 hour flight to Rada Tilly on the east coast of Patagonia where six days of racing will take place during the three week trip (It’s so far that it’s only a short hop to the Falkland Islands).

On Friday 18 January 30 guests from the King and Queen to a Serf, a Knight to a Monk attended the Medieval Banquet at Cowden in deepest Holderness.

Entertainment was superb – the musicians played traditional instruments encouraging audience participation between courses. They also explained the history of the instruments they played and after the meal led dancing for those who were not too full to partake.

The meal was in keeping with the theme with attention to detail with the table settings.

Fund raising was encouraged with participation in games and an auction of the three sets of silver goblets.

Over £500 was raised for a local Hull Charity - HERRIB (Hull & East Riding Institute for the Blind).  It was an excellent night organised by one of the club’s newest members, Andrea.