'WE ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS'
LYN BARTON

09:00 - 05 May 2008

Tears of triumph mingled with a look of almost numb "we've done it" disbelief as the new World Champions of Pilot Gig Racing were crowned last night.

Mounts Bay had belted across the finishing line on a glorious Scilly Isles afternoon snatching the top honours.

The victory in black wooden boat Kensa, was sweet for a team that showed their promise from early on in the championships.

It pushed hotly fancied reigning champions, Caradon, off the winner's podium into a distant fifth - proving for the Saltash team that 13 was an unlucky number for their trophy cabinet.

"It was awesome," said Gary Rich, captain of the Mounts Bay team, moments after he came ashore. "We were confident with what we were doing. We were pleased with our performance right from the off. It was tough race and we got an early lead and we were able to keep hold of it."
Gary said the team had been training hard all year, in the gym and on the water.

"I can't believe we are world champions. It is brilliant."

Charlotte Roberts, Captain of the Ladies Team who had very nearly led them to victory as well, was overwhelmed.

Red eyed and sobbing, she said: "They have worked so hard and I am so pleased for them.

"For someone to beat the big teams like Caradon and Falmouth is wonderful."

While there were surprises in the men's championships, the women's trophy was lifted for the fifth consecutive time by the Falmouth Ladies, whose confident oar stroke was praised as "metronomic" by race commentators.

Captain Esther Oldrieve said the women's competition got harder every year.

"This is the fifth time we have won and it feels as good as it did the first time. Every year we have new challenges, like new crew members to build into the team.

"Every year we come here and we have to step up our game."

The team's coxswain Lee Altenberg paid tribute to their appetite for the race: "The girls are absolutely brilliant. They're enthusiastic, they want to race and they want to win. They have a total mental belief that they can achieve to the highest level."

It was a record breaking 111 boats taking part in the World Pilot Gig Championships, which every year seems to engulf the Scilly Isles - doubling its population and shattering the tranquillity.

President of the event Rick Persich said it had been a fantastic year, helped by large doses of sunshine which showed the islands off at their beautiful best.

"It has been an amazing event with 111 gigs. We have had no tragedies or problems.

"The spectators have enjoyed it immensely, the competitors have enjoyed it and the Islanders have enjoyed it."

There was a brief moment of controversy on Sunday after the one of the Scillonian teams was disqualified.

The men's crew of the Nornour was kicked out for fielding a 15-year-old member after another team complained that the no-under-16 rule had been breached

Kevin Sherris, Vice-President of the Championship, said it was a clear contravention.

"It's one rule for everyone. You can't go bending the rules because it's a local boat."They said they didn't know, but it's written clearly in the rules the coxwains have to sign at the start of the championship."

In terms of discipline, there were about half a dozen complaints to stewards, many concerning a clash of boats and oars near the finishing line.

But overall, the championship was an amazingly good natured event.

Rowing was not the only thing on the mind of the Falmouth DD team, who were raising money for breast cancer.

The idea to row and fundraise came after the mother of Falmouth rower - and former Olympic competitor Alison's Trickey's mother, Carolyn, herself a rower, was diagnosed with the disease.

Armed with a pink bucket, the teams won the championship's Fair Play award by raising an impressive £1,400 from touring pubs and their website www.justgiving.com/ddcrew.

Dartmouth rower Robyn Pyne perhaps came from the furthest afield - taking a holiday from her lecturing job in Northern China - to attend.

But it was with their red shirts emblazoned with USA and their flag that American team from Saquish Rowing Club in Plymouth, Massachusetts, displayed the most obvious international credentials.

Hilary Moll, Beth Howard, Mary-Patrice Ruocco, Karin Kaczorowski, Jessica Rowcroft-McKenna and Michelle Hughes were constantly joked with and asked "did you row here?"

Stroke Oar Hilary said it had been an amazing experience: "We want to come back next year. We are already thinking about it The Scillies are stunning and everyone has been really friendly. It's been an amazing adventure."

Perhaps the loudest cheer of the day went to the crew Cornwall Rowing Association for the Blind, which with an average age of 61, compete in the veterans' races and the main event.

Gerry Jones said that it would be the first time they hadn't picked up the Wooden Spoon.

"We have been coming here for 10 years. This the first time we have beaten other crews. We beat five others crews in the veterans and we are one of the bottom in the main race. It's been our best year.

"Now it's time to celebrate with a cigar and a beer.



©Western Morning News         Western Morning News

Now here's a thought,"BATTLE OF THE CHAMPIONS",Rugby v Gigs,play each other at our own sports.  

Things like gig racing are sustained exhaustion. There is not the occasional let-up that occurs in sports such as rugby. I know, I have watched it.