Chris Walter, Author at Barnstaple Pilot Gig Club

Author: Chris Walter

Barnstaple Sprint Regatta

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Barnstaple Pilot Gig Club enjoyed a glorious late Summer’s day on the River Taw on Sunday 27th Aug, when they held their annual Sprint Regatta.  This has become a firm favourite with North coast clubs, and it was attended this year by boats and crews from Appledore, Torridge, Bude, Ilfracombe and Boscastle & Crackington.  Racing started early at 9.45am with the Men’s Veteran race on a flat calm river with no wind.  The narrow channel around Fisherman’s Point caused some clashes of oars as all the boats were still in line and they were forced to close in on each other.  Will to Win (Torridge) came out of this to be first across the line opposite Queen Anne’s Statue, closely followed by Boscastle’s Torrent.
The succeeding races were a battle against the falling river levels as the tide receded, but by virtue of some very slick changeovers between races the full programme was completed.  The combined Junior races followed the Veterans, with Appledore’s under-14s first in their group and Ilfracombe’s Under-16’s first in their group.  Barum’s Men’s A crew stormed through the length of the course to take first place in their race, and Ilfracombe’s Ladies A showed their continuing strength by coming first in their race.  The final B group races were won by Bude Ladies and Ilfracombe’s Men.
Final overall placings for the regatta were:
1st    Appledore
2nd   lfracombe
3rd    Torridge & Boscastle
4th     Barnstaple
5th     Bude

Porthleven Regatta 2017

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Barnstaple Pilot Gig Club took their racing Gig Lady Freda and 16 rowers to Porthleven, near Helston, on Saturday 19th August to take part in Porthleven’s Gig Club regatta.  Sixteen clubs in total attended, including top Cornish clubs, so the Barum rowers were delighted with their seventh place overall in the final results.
Sea conditions were not unlike those normally experienced during the World Championships in the Scilly Isles, with a choppy swell and westerly winds force 4 – 5 for most of the afternoon, although the sheltered harbour was a suntrap for the spectators. 
Both Falmouth and Coverack competed hard for first and second places in the races entered into, although neither club entered every race. The first two races ( Ladies B and Men’s B), were won by Falmouth and Mounts Bay respectively, followed by the Under 16’s and Ladies A races, both won by Coverack.  The Men’s A race was won by Falmouth (Coverack second), the Veterans race (men and ladies together) went to Penryn, and the final Mixed crew race was won by Falmouth. Mounts Bay also competed strongly, with a crew in every race, and with one first place, two second places, two fourth places and two fifth places actually took first place overall in the competition.
The Barum club results were:
Ladies B   10th, Men’s B   7th, Ladies A   13th, Men’s A   11th, Veterans   5th ,  and Mixed crew 7th.

Torridge Regatta

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This took place on Sunday at Appledore, with 7 or 8 boats in most of the races. It was an overcast day, rather humid with occasional rain showers, but calm sea conditions and light winds. The first race started at 09.45am, and the organisers managed to fit in 12 separate races, finishing with the 'six decades' race (six rowers in each boat, each born in a different decade) at 3.00pm.

Ilfracombe continued their winning streak, taking first place in seven races, second place in three races and fourth place in two races. Torridge came second overall with two first places, three second places, six third places and a fifth place, and Appledore third equal with Boscastle.

Future regattas are further afield in the next few weeks (Paignton, Devoran, Port Issac and Boscastle to name a few), the next local regatta will be Barnstaple Pilot Gig Club Sprint regatta on Sunday 27th August on the River Taw in Barnstaple. All of the local clubs are expected to be taking part in what should be a colourful spectacle in the middle of town.

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