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Category: Featured Gig Club

Featured Gig Club :: Weymouth Rowing Club

Featured Gig Club :: Weymouth Rowing Club

Club Name: Weymouth Rowing Club

Clubhouse/Gig Shed location: Nothe Parade, Weymouth, Dorset

Gigs Currently owned: Sir Tristan, Penny, Isolde and Tristan.

Gig colours: Green/Varnish, Yellow and white.

Date(s) they were built and builder(s): Sir Tristan (2001) – Alan Hanger, Penny (2002) – Alan Hanger, Isolde (2008) – Dave Currah and Tristan (2010) – Dave Currah.

Any other history about the boats (other clubs owned, etc.)?:

Lasting memorials to Tristan Douglas-Johnson and Simon Penny.

Number of Club Members: Currently 116.

Longest-standing members: Heddon Johnson, Andrew Goss, Alan Hanger, Duff and Wendy Pearce, Sarah and Helen Lee.  Jon Hardwick.  Caz, Emma and Steph Drever.  Graham Noble. Kurt Docksey.

When was the club started?: December 2000.

How has the club progressed since then?: Boatshed built by club members in 2002-3, extended in 2006.  Increasing membership.  Hopefully helping to encourage new clubs (Swanage, Bristol, Lyme Regis, Ilfracombe, Portland and Bridport).

Best ever results in the Worlds?: 12th (men) – 2010, 23rd (ladies) – 2008, 13th (ladies vets) – 2009, 5th (men’s vets) – 2007.

Any other (gig-rowing!) notable achievements?:

  • Friendly club – everyone welcome
  • Penny and crew of ladies members were chartered to appear in the film “The Boat that Rocked” in 2008
  • Safety Boat the “Davy Jones” was launched in 2008 – built by Andrew Goss.

Any annual events you organise?:

  • Regatta – held on the first weekend of July as part of the Spirit of the Sea Festival (Olympic Legacy event). This event is held on the Nothe Gardens, which has spectacular views of the racing, with top notch hospitality, a Saturday night party and the opportunity to experience a Weekend of Weymouth’s night life!
  • End of Season Ball
  • Summer Garden Party
  • Christmas Party
  • Wine Festival (bi-annual)

Do you have a juniors section?:  Yes

How do you select your racing crews?: Committee of Rowing Captains and Club Coaches.  Criteria – rowing ability, fitness, strength & power in the boat, team spirit and trim of the boat.

What month do you select your teams for Scilly?: February (aka the sulking season)

Club website address: www.weymouthrowingclub.org

Contact for newcomers: Christine Barsky (01305 812666) or 07787 500673

Anything else you think we should know about your club?!:

-          Fun is the most important aspect of our Club

-          At the launch of our 4th gig we still managed to forget to put the oars in the gig (half the Men’s A crew had to nip round to the shed during the ceremony)!

Thanks to Helen Laidlow for sending in the above information.

Jul 21, 2010 | 1 comment | View Post
Featured Club :: Flushing & Mylor Pilot Gig Club

Featured Club :: Flushing & Mylor Pilot Gig Club

Club Name: Flushing & Mylor Pilot Gig Club.

Clubhouse/Gig Shed location: Nr Kiln Quay, Flushing, Cornwall.

Gigs currently in use: Penarrow, Pinnacle, Trefusis

Gig colours: Deep red / White / Varnished top plank.

Dates they were built and builders:
Penarrow – Andrew Nancarrow 2006
Pinnacle – Andrew Nancarrow 2003
Trefusis – D & J Currah 1995

Any other history about the boats (other clubs owned, etc.)?:

Penarrow has always been owned by FMPGC. Name taken from the headland between Flushing and Mylor. Name translates to “The point of the dead”.

Pinnacle originally owned by Swanage Sea Rowing Club, named after the rock in in Swanage.

Trefusis was formerly “Vixen” of Padstow, and before that “Tormentor” of Charlestown.

Number of Club Members: 140 (2009)

Longest-standing members: Many existing members have been with the club since the start.

When was the club started?: 2004

How has the club progressed since then?: Bigger and better each year. As with any club things go in cycles and there are up’s and down’s. However the past 24 months has seen excellent progress and an influx of superb members.

Best ever results in the Worlds?: Mens A 2008 – 10th. Mens Vets 2010 – 3rd.

Any other (gig-rowing!) notable achievements?: Won MPM event in 2007, most improved crew shield 2007. Shortlisted CPGA Chairman’s Cup 2009. Won “Spirit of MPM” in 2006. Mens Vets 3rd in WPGC 2010.

Any annual events you organise?: We have a beach “fun day” as part of Flushing regatta week in July. In 2010 we are co-hosting a major event in Falmouth harbour in conjunction with Falmouth Gig Club and www.GigRower.co.uk

Do you have a juniors section?: Yes, very busy! 26 at the last count.

Availability, capability, fitness, attitude.

What month do you select your teams for Scilly?: Feb / March

Club website address: www.fmpgc.org

Flushing & Mylor Supervets 2010Contact for newcomers: newcomers@fmpgc.org

Anything else you think we should know about your club?!: We’re home to CRA president and fixed seat rowing legend Penny Chuter OBE. She moved to Mylor to “take it easy”- you can guess how that turned out! Also, we have what is probably the crew with the oldest average age currently racing on the circuit – the (in)famous FMPGC Supervets – in addition to thriving men’s and ladies sections. This year (2010) we had 13 crews taking part at the World Championships.

May 12, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post
Featured Gig Club :: Pendeen Gig Club

Featured Gig Club :: Pendeen Gig Club

This months featured gig club is Pendeen Gig Club. Thank you to Geoff for giving us the info.

Club Name:

Pendeen Pilot Gig Club

Clubhouse/Gig Shed location

The Old Blacksmiths’ shed at Geevor Tin Mine Site, Pendeen

Gigs Currently owned

Avarack and a GRP training gig, Portheras

Gig colours

Azure blue with yellow below and yellow rubbing strakes

Date(s) they were built and builder(s)

Avarack built by Andrew Nancarrow at Bissoe and launched in 2000. She is named after a local reef of rocks off the coast at Pendeen. Portheras built by Trevor Deakin and launched in 2007. She is named after a local cove.

Any other history about the boats (other clubs owned, etc.)?

Both boats owned from new.

Number of Club Members

Approaching 60, including social members. About two-thirds are rowing members.

Longest-standing Members

A number of founding members are still members – Pete and Georg Cass, Bill Lakin, Sheila Russell. Longest-standing member still rowing – Andy Basey.

When was the club started?

In 1999 after some Pendeen youngsters won a “fun” local gig event in 1998.

How has the club progressed since then?

Membership built steadily over the first few years but has increased at a faster pace in the last couple of years and continues to grow.  This strengthening of the club in recent years has seen us pull ourselves out of a very “lean” patch as far as race results are concerned and our commitment and determination is beginning to pull us up the race tables. We are also now in the position where we can field both A and B teams at most races. Our next aim has to be to acquire a new, second wooden gig.

Best ever results in the Worlds?

In 2009. Ladies were 70th out of 113. Men were 77th out of 118. This was a significant improvement for the Ladies as we only put a Ladies team in for the first time in 2006 (they came last!), and in 2007 and 2008 they won the bottom group both years running.

Any other (gig-rowing!) notable achievements?

Awarded the Chairperson’s cup by the CPGA two years ago.

Any annual events you organise?

Haven’t organised our own gig rowing event yet but hope to do so within the next couple of years as the club strengthens. However, a couple of years ago we took over organising and running the annual Pendeen Rally at the Geevor Tin Mine Site. This has given us a good, local presence in the community as well as a fund raising springboard.

Do you have a juniors section?

Just started to build a regular Junior team last year, although we have had some junior members for a number of years.

How do you select your racing crews?

Mostly by strength and quality of rowing ability. However, we like to give newcomers a taste of racing as soon as possible so sometimes we will “sacrifice” the strength of a crew in order to achieve this.

What month do you select your teams for Scilly?

January/February

Club website address

http://pendeengig.website.orange.co.uk/

Contact for newcomers

Geoff Hoather, The Old Chapel, Boscaswell Downs, Pendeen, Penzance TR19 7DR. Phone: 01736786006. E-mail: geoffgoatherd@aol.com

Anything else you think we should know about your club?

Nothing you could publish!

Apr 02, 2010 | 1 comment | View Post
Featured Gig Club :: Looe

Featured Gig Club :: Looe

Each month we are going to be doing  ‘Featured Gig Club‘ post and this month it’s Looe Rowing Club, thank you to Mike White for the following answers.

Looe Rowing Club

Club Name
Looe Rowing Club

Clubhouse/Gig Shed location
Esme Couch Boathouse,  Seafront East Looe (Photos to come)

Gigs Currently owned
Ryder
Samphire
Skath Gwyn (Plastic Pig!)
New Boat to be delivered December 2010

Gig colours
Light Blue.  Ryder has a yellow rubbing strip, Ryder white.  Painted white inside.

Date(s) they were built and builder(s):
Ryder = 1992
Samphire = 1999
Both boats built by Jim and Dave Currah.  New boat also to be built by Dave and son Tom.

Any other history about the boats (other clubs owned, etc.)?
Ryder is rigged for sailing.
Ryder was named after the last rowing Lifeboat stationed in Looe from 1902-1930 and Samphire after a local beach and plant that grows around Looe.

Number of Club Members:
Approx 60.

Longest-standing members:
Pauline Tamlin, Alison Currah, Dave Currah, Patrick Currah, Robert ‘Chippy’ Chapman, Tamsin Gates and John Currah.

When was the club started?
Looe Pilot Gig Club was formed in 1992, Looe Rowing Club as it is known today, amalgamated with the Flashboat club (Looe Rowing Club) in 2000.  The Flashboat Club had been in existence since the 1950’s.

How has the club progressed since then?
Since 1992 the club has experienced periods of large numbers of crews competing and finishing in the top three at nearly every regatta they attended and winning county championships with the junior crews.  However over the years, numbers dwindled to its lowest point in 2006 and 2007 when we had just one men’s crew (Nicknamed Team Hanson!) competing regularly at regattas with no ladies or juniors rowing competitavly at all.

Since the end of 2007, with a lot of blood, sweat and tears, the club has grown to two men’s crews, two ladies crews, around 30 juniors, has a new boathouse on Looe seafront and a new gig on order.  The club has benefited from the help and expertise of British Rowing coach Tom Pattichis and Rhiannon Halliday in developing Indoor Rowing club with the local school with members competing at County, Regional and National competitions with some members becoming County Champions at the recent Schools competition in Newquay.  The club has also benefited from their help in getting members qualified in coaching and helping the club achieve Clubmark Status.

Best ever results in the Worlds?
Mens A 6th in 1993 and Ladies A 6th in 1993.

Any other (gig-rowing!) notable achievements?
Loads!
Newquay County Championships 2009 – Men’s A 5th – best ever result here.

Junior results: 1992 – U16 County Champions.
1994 – U16s 2nd place.
1995 – U16s 2nd place.
1996 – U16s 2nd place
2000 – U16s 3rd place
2002 – U16s 2nd place
2003 – County Champions
2009 – U14s 2nd and 3rd and C crew finishing 15th.

Club achieved Clubmark status in 2009.

Cornwall Sports Partnership Club of Year as voted by the general public.

Any annual events you organise?
Round the Island Race and summer Regatta

Do you have a juniors section?
Yes – currently enormous at around 30 juniors.  Looe has always been a successful and strong junior club with members going onto race in our senior sections and we are determined to return the club to the top spots in Junior racing.  If 2009 is anything to go by, we are well on the way to achieving this aim.

We have an indoor rowing club approaching 40 juniors and competing in County, Regional and National Schools championships.  Club currently has the Year 9 and 10 boys County Champions and the Year 9 Girls County champions rowing with us.

How do you select your racing crews?
Commitment, technique, fitness.

What month do you select your teams for Scilly?
March

Club website address
www.looerowingclub.org

Contact for newcomers
Mike White – 07800 812062

Anything else you think we should know about your club?
Looe Rowing Club as it stands today is a merger of Looe Rowing Club and Looe Pilot Gig Club.  The Pilot Gig Club was established in 1992, the Rowing Club in the 1930’s rowing Flashboats.  There is evidence of Flashboats racing much earlier than that though, as early as 1910.  (Pics to follow.)

The club is still relatively young in terms of the ages of its members and several of these members take on senior roles in the club such as coaching, coxing and committee based roles.  These responsibilities despite our relatively young ages (18-30) shows a lot of grit and determination to return the club to the successes it experienced back in the early 90s and surpass these successes with our crews.

In 2009 we entered two ladies crews at Newquay Championships – the first time this has happened for about 10 years.  Three Junior crews went to both U14 and U16 championships in 2009.  This was the most number of crews we have entered for the County Championships ever.

Random fact
Men’s A crew from 2009 average age was just 21.5yrs old with a combined weight of just 76 stone and we all rowed in junior crews, progressing upwards into our Men’s squad.

Mar 05, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post
Featured Gig Club :: Caradon

Featured Gig Club :: Caradon

Each month we are going to be doing  ‘Featured Gig Club’ post and this month it’s Cardon, thank you to Leanne Kent for the following answers.

Caradon Gig Club

Club Name
Caradon Pilot Gig Club

Clubhouse/Gig Shed location
Saltash Sailing Club, Waterside, Saltash

Gigs Currently owned
Ann Glanville, Mary Newman, Millers Daughter, Essa


Gig colours
White with red bottom and blue running streak

Dates they were built and builders:
Ann Glanville (1990) Ralph Bird
Mary Newman (1996) Dave & Jim Currah
Millers Daughter (2003) Dave Currah
Essa (2009/10) Maurice & Louis Hunkin

Any other history about the boats:
Recently sold ‘Amelia Lee’ (originally called Storm when we brought her from Mounts Bay in 2002), to Paignton Gig Club.  We have kept the name ‘Amelia Lee’, so i believe Paignton will be renaming her.

Number of Club Members:
Approx 60

Longest-standing members:
Steve Kent, Nigel Churcher, Linda Kent

When was the club started:
1987

How has the club progressed since then:
Since the club was first established we have gone from strength to strength, both in results and size.  This year we will be sending 4 mens crews and 3 ladies crews to the world championships, as well as 2 mens vets crews and 1 ladies vets crew, the biggest entry we have made as a Club.

We have gradually, over the years, raised monies to enable to us to commission the building of new gigs (the newest being ‘Essa’ due to be launched on Sat 13th February 2010), to ensure that we remain competitive in the sport.

Best ever results in the Worlds:

  • Mens A – world champions 1995 – 2001, 2nd 2002, world champions 2003 – 2007, 2nd 2009.
  • Ladies A – 3rd place 2005, 2006, 2007
  • Mens Vets – World champions 2001, 2005 and 2008

Any other notable achievements:

  • Mens A – County Champions 1991,1994,1995,1997,1999,2000,2001, 2nd 2002, Champions 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 & 2009, 3rd 2008.
  • Ladies A – 2nd place county championships 2000 & 2001, 2007 & 2008, 3rd  place 2002, 2003, 2006 &2009.
  • Mens Vets county champions 2001, 2005, 2008
  • Mixed Vets County Champions – 2007, 2008 & 2009
  • Juniors County Champions 1991

Any annual events you organise:
CPGA Mixed and Veterans Championships & Three Rivers

Do you have a juniors section:
Yes

How do you select your racing crews:
We look at rowing technique, fitness, strength, availability and committment to the Club.

What month do you select your teams for Scilly:
February

Club website address:
www.caradongigclub.co.uk

Contact for newcomers:
Steve Kent – 01752 842235

Anything else you think we should know about your club:
Due to launch our new gig ‘Essa’ built by Maurice and Louis Hunkin of Fowey, on Saturday 13th February at 3 p.m. at Ashtorre Rock, Saltash.  Followed by drinks and buffet in the Sailing Club.

Feb 09, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post