THE banks of the River Wye were alive with festive spirit, as Monmouth Rowing Club celebrated its annual 'Plum Pudding Christmas Races'.

Even the Grinch put in an appearance as more than 40 enthusiastic club members wearing festive head gear braved the winter chill, bringing the river to life with side-by-side 750m sprint races in four eights and two quadruple sculls.

The racing was as thrilling as ever, with photo finishes and cheers echoing across the water.

The grand finale was an absolute nail-biter, with the winning crew taking the glory by just two feet!

Congratulations to the victorious crew, expertly steered by cox Sue Bezani and powered by Sam Tod, Evan Whittal-Williams, Alex Mitchell, Mike Smith, Sophie Williams, Julian Shaw, Deborah Fanning and John Benson.

The winners each took home a coveted Monmouth RC medal and, of course, a delicious Christmas pudding – the ultimate reward for festive rowers.

The event wasn’t just about rowing; fancy dress added an extra layer of fun. Among the best costumes was Alex Mitchell's transformation into a Grinch.

But this Grinch didn’t steal Christmas – he 'stole victory instead with his crew rowing down the opposition in the final to win by inches!

After the excitement on the water, everyone warmed up in the clubhouse with mince pies, mulled wine, and plenty of good cheer.

A big shout out goes to Athens Olympian and club coach Tim Male for pulling off another fantastic event and to members who contributed to the festive treats and drinks.

As the oars were packed away and the puddings savoured, it was clear the Plum Pudding Races were another success for the club.

But maybe a little extra training will now be needed to burn off those mince pies!