Pilot Gigs head to Plymouth for international racing

The Pilot Gig Rowing Clubs of Brixham, Barnstaple and the Dart will be on the start line for this weekend’s Junior International Championships on Saturday and then the Adult and Junior National County Championships on Sunday, both staged in Plymouth.

The New Junior International Championships will see young rowers of all ages and categories up to 16 compete against each other for the first time. Under-14s and under-16s, boys, girls, mixed and free crews will all be racing against each other with medals for the winners.

On Sunday, the National County Championships for both adults and juniors take place. Unlike regular gig rowing regattas and championship fixtures, where rowers compete for their clubs, rowers will instead represent their county sides.

The adult event should have taken place in Swanage last weekend but was postponed due to a poor weather forecast, so now Adult and Junior racing will be on the same day. 

Both events are supported by Plymouth Waterfront Partnership and will take place at the Mountbatten Watersports & Activities Centre in Plymouth, which provides excellent facilities and great views of the Cattewater for spectators. 

Nick George, Participation and Engagement Lead for the CPGA said: "The National County Championships is a prestigious event where rowers who have competed against each other all season come together to form crews and work to secure medals for their counties.”

Gigs are 32-foot long traditionally built open wooden boats rowed by six crew and steered by a coxswain. 

The sport has grown enormously since its revival in the 80’s, there are now eight thousand rowers in 90 clubs spread across the UK, with more in Europe and America.

The races will be live-streamed on the Gigrower YouTube channel.