Mount's Bay Pilot Gig Club

This year instead of all rowing activities ceasing in the middle of September ready for the autumn break, there has still been plenty happening atMountsBay.

Training for Mens Newquay was extended by two weeks due to it’s postponement in September, so the boats were still getting plenty of use on the water, however this time from our new shed.

New Shed: We moved into our new shed in September, thank to the volunteers who showed up to help out last minute with the move. We still have no electricity but I think all agree that the new building is a definite asset to the club and it’s great to know we have our own building, designed for us, for the first time. There will be an official opening, watch this space.

Guests in our gigs: On 28^th September, representatives from Participate Sport and various other organisations associated with next September’s Festival Of Sport to be held in Mounts Bay, were treated to a morning of gig rowing and racing. After a brief introduction on land by Dave Elliott and Charlotte Roberts, the group had plenty of time on the water to get the idea of gig rowing, learn the basic technique before getting stuck into some racing. It seemed they enjoyed it so much, another session was arranged for 11^th October were more new faces had a go at our unique sport. Thanks once again to those who volunteered and helped out on both occasions.

For more information on the Festival Of Sport please visit www.festivalofsport.net.

CRY charity row: On Saturday 15^th October, three crews fromMountsBay, as well as crews from Pendeen and Zennor embarked on a row to Mousehole to support the awareness day run by Sylvia and Leon Pezzack for the charity CRY. Sadly their daughter, Debbie Rendle died of the disease and the Pezzacks have worked tirelessly ever since to increase awareness of the condition to prevent more young people losing their lives prematurely. The day was a success, please read the thanks below from The Pezzacks:

‘Leon and I enjoyed the evening last Friday, so please extend our thanks to everyone involved.  Please also thank everyone for their support for the 15 October, by rowing over from Marazion etc. The event raised a staggering sum of £817 and since then I have received further donations of £150 and the money your club raised from the raffle on Friday night i.e £73.00 brings the total to £1,040.  I now have enough money for the initial two day screening in February next year, with a surplus to go towards another session in the future. However as I said on Friday, I could not have achieved this without the help and support of so many people.’

For more information on the charity please visit www.c-r-y.org.uk.

Friday 21st October saw our annual dinner and presentation night, held at the Godolphin Arms, Marazion. Following the meal, came the awards and speeches, kicked off by Chairman David Elliott who provided a summary of the year and reminded us all of the big year we have ahead! This was followed by a speech from our Director Of Rowing, Adrian Edwards who commented on events on the water and praised the club for it’s continuing hard work and efforts which contribute to making it the success it is on and off the water.

Finally came the awards which were presented to:

Most Improved Rower (female): Lucy O’Hare

Most Improved Rower (male): Rob Tilley

Rower Of The Year (female): Naomi Watts

Rower Of The Year (male): Ryan Watts

First Win Of The Season: Mens C on Scillies

Endeavour Shield: Tracy Tonkin

and finally…… The Broken Pin: Tony Such. Awarded for several reasons, but most memorably his overnight stay in Weymouth hospital!

Following the postponement of the mens Newquay Championship, the event was re-scheduled for the 8th and 9th October. Unfortunately the A crew lost four of it’s rowers with only Tony Such and Sam Gilman available from the original crew. Following re-selection two crews were entered and training began once more (although maybe not so intense as it could have been!). Final crews were:

A crew Cox Charlotte Roberts. Crew Logan Anderton, Sam Gilman, Andy Hope, Tony Such, Tom Elliott, Colin Campbell 

B crew Cox Tracy Tonkin. Crew Gary Rich, Rob Tilley, Rob Abernethy, Julian Parrott, Ian Blewett and Russ Salter.

The weather conditions were indicative to Newquay, big swells and some breaking waves made for eventful and challenging conditions. Both crews had a successful weekend, with the B crew getting to round 2 and finishing 32nd and the A crew progressed to the quarter finals on Sunday. After some great racing with Padstow A, Looe B and Falmouth C, they narrowly missed out on the semi finals and finished 16th, missing out by a few seconds.

Unfortunately the decision has been made to cancel our event tomorrow, based on the weather forecast.

See you at Newquay next weekend!

Mount’s Bay Pilot Gig Club would like to invite you to their annual regatta on Saturday 10th September 2011.

Coxswains meeting is at 11am with the first race at 11.30am.

Men’s A

Men’s B

U14?s

Ladies A

Ladies B

U16?s

Ladies vets

Mens and mixed vets

Mixed

Refreshments will be available throughout the day in the gig shed. The presentation of trophies will follow immediately after the last race. Boats are to arrive from 09.30. No sooner, as it will be high tide and there will be no beach for unloading.