The Gig Rowing Calendar

Here is an overview of the pilot gig rowing year for those of you yet to cut your teeth on the full joy of racing, this is how it pans out over the year…

  • Winter – We get out on the River all year round, the 2018/2019 season saw the first Tamar Winter League, a chance for local clubs to compete and keep on their toes throughout the cold Winter months.
  • March – The Three Rivers Race, hosted by Caradon Gig Club in Saltash, is 6 miles (1 hour) long, and takes in the three rivers of the Tamar, Tavy and Lynher. A long and arduous race, it is usually hosted in March and for the past two years this means frosty training sessions and a bitterly cold day for the race. This race is an important one to kick off the racing year and a good one to test our potential IOS Crews just prior to selection.
  • May – The World Championships on the IOS. The highlight of the rowing year. This is always held over the first May Bank Holiday weekend and is what many have trained all year to be selected for. The weekend consists of the vets race from St. Agnes to St. Mary’s Quay ( 1.59 nautical miles) on the Friday night followed by the Ladies and Men’s seeding races, also from St. Agnes to St Mary’s on Saturday morning followed closely by two rounds of races from Nut Rock to St. Mary’s Quay (1.16 nautical miles) that are sent off in groups of 12, slowest first where the top two gigs move up a group and the bottom two move down until the final race on Sunday afternoon. To sum up – Vets have just one race on the Friday with the Ladies & Mens Crews racing 4 times over the weekend.
  • Summer Regattas – organised by other clubs. We do try and send the best crews we can but everyone who the Coxes and Coaches feel are ready to row in a competition will have an opportunity.
  • Tribute Challenge – This is for Men’s & Ladies A & B Crews & Juniors Under 16’s, with events held during the season. These are sponsored by St. Austell Brewery and are highly competitive so we try to send the best crews we can. Points earned from these give the Club a position on the league table.
  • June/July – Junior’s, Mixed & Vets Championships.
  • Eddystone Challenge – Times vary according to tides. 26 miles and the toughest challenge of the season.
  • September – The Great London River Race, a 22 mile race on the Thames.
  • September – Newquay County Gig Championships. The juniors, ladies and men compete on different weekends, weather permitting. We try to select our crews early for this event in order to spend several weeks practising. Conditions on this north Cornwall Coast can be very challenging!