gig news

County Gig Champions and photo's 2008

08-09-08: chloe wild

Newquay Ladies Gig Championships were held this weekend. The big finale to the season, eighty three crews entered from Cornwall, Devon and Bristol to compete for the title of County Champions.

The competition runs over two days in a series of knock out heats with the fastest boats progressing to the next round. Rough sea conditions on Saturday resulted in an early finish to the day as the swell rolled in making any more rowing too hazardous to continue.

Sunday dawned bright and sunny but far from flat. Challenging conditions continued throughout the day with Falmouth Ladies A crew dominating their heats, making them firm favourites to claim the title.

Lots of Seasalt staff were on the water so a big well done to them all including Carol rowing for Fowey, Chloe and Kathryn rowing for Helford and Julia rowing for Charlestown whose crew came a brilliant third overall.

In the final the race was on between Falmouth, Caradon and Charlestown Ladies A crews who chased each other all the way in a lead pack of three.

It was Falmouth however that drew away in the final stages with a boat lengths lead to claim the County Champions title.
Another great weekend’s racing and a brilliant finish to the ladies gig rowing season.

We will report on the Men’s and Juniors County Championships which will be taking place in Newquay on 20th and 21st September.

P.S check out the photo’s of Kathryn’s crew who were all wearing the Seasalt Tall Ships tees in all their races!

peace love gig rowing

chloe - 29/4/08

Me and my sister on holiday in Molyvos, Greece a couple of weeks ago, wearing our Seasalt ‘peace love gig rowing’ tees. Great place, great holiday, great t-shirts!

We’ll be putting these new organic t-shirts on the site very soon.

training for scilly

chloe 21-4-08

Only twelve days to go until the Pilot Gig World Championships on Scilly. We are training on the water five days a week, my hands are rough as old boots…blisters on blisters…it’s not a dainty sport.

Rumour has it the defending champions Falmouth Ladies A are rowing at 38 strokes a minute and crushing watermelons between their thighs. We salute you!

first gig race of the season

matt johnson 17/3/08

First gig race of the season and the longest… Three Rivers Race in Saltash on Sunday was a long 52 minute slog. The course took us under the Tamar Bridge which was pretty cool and the weather stayed dry - a miracle. Falmouth swept the board - winning the mens and ladies race. We came in 21st out of 43 mens’ crews - it was mine and Edd’s first race so we were pretty happy with that. Big thanks to Flushing for lending us their gig ‘Pinnacle’ to race in and Bridget for coxing us.

the gigs that ralph built

chloe wild 07/10/07

Twenty eight gigs gathered from all over Cornwall, Devon and Wales on Saturday to celebrate the work of boat builder Ralph Bird. Each and every one had been made by Ralph, an amazing sight and a fitting symbol of the regard in which he is held by the gig world. Launching his last ever gig, the day celebrated his contribution to the sport. Named Ralph Bird in tribute, the gigs old and new rowed in procession and held their oars aloft as Ralph coxed his last gig through Newquay’s harbour walls.

who won?

chloe wild 12/09/07

Well, the weekend of the Ladies and Under 16’s Pilot Gig County Championships was just brilliant. 72 ladies crews and 22 junior crews took to the Newquay waters, competing in four knock out heats, over two days to reach the final. I was rowing for Helford and after a good start (9th place on Saturday) dropped to 20th in the quarters - grrrr!

A different story for Zennor - Seasalt’s sponsored crew - they rowed their socks off and came a brilliant 13th overall - well done girls! It was a similar story for Carol who works in Seasalt’s Fowey branch. Their crew came a jubilant 11th and Fowey juniors were also celebrating, taking the under 16’s title with a good four boat length lead. Second for the juniors were Padstow, third were Falmouth and Helford (my prediction for first) took fourth.

My predicted winners for the ladies were a bit more on the ball with Falmouth Ladies lifting the county trophy, chased all the way to the line by Caradon who took second and Roseland who got third.

Well done all crews for a fantastic weekend - roll on the mens champs which are taking place in Newquay on 22nd and 23rd Sept.

winning predictions...

chloe wild 05/09/07

So - Newquay Pilot Gig County Championships are kicking off this weekend. Starting with the ladies and under 16’s on the 8th and 9th September I am going to stick my neck out and predict who is going to lift the county trophy this year…

I think the winning crews will be Falmouth Ladies, Roseland Men and Helford Under 16’s - watch this space!

racing at fowey

chloe wild 27/08/07

The last but one big gig race before the county championships took place in Fowey this weekend. Competition has stepped up a gear as the championships approach and all the favourites were on the water. There’s little to separate the top clubs and Falmouth, Caradon and Roseland were all vying for first place. It was Falmouth that proved themselves, winning both the men’s and ladies A crew races. Conditions were calm and hot - not the most comfortable for rowers pulling 36 strokes a minute throughout the 15 minute course. It will be interesting to see if Falmouth can maintain their lead and lift the county trophy…

tribute to rower

chloe wild 25/07/07

Nathan Woodcock, a gig rower from the Isles of Scilly died on 13th July. Our sympathies are extended to all family and friends. Nathan, aged just twenty three, died whilst rowing Bonnet, the islands’ oldest gig. The crew had just won their race when Nathan collapsed. Despite the efforts of those on the scene they were unable to revive him. In tribute a minute’s silence was held at Saturday’s racing at Cadgwith. Oars were held aloft on sea and shore in commemoration of a man described as a larger than life character, loved by all who knew him.