Appledore Pilot Gig Club was founded in 2003 by four founding partners – Len White, Richard Back, Colin Eastman and Denise Morrish, who all had a dream to bring pilot gigs back to Appledore. A first club meeting, of course in a village pub, signed up the initial members and two years of fundraising later, the clubs first gig, ‘Verbena’, built by Brian Pomeroy, finally took to the water in 2005 followed by ‘Whitford’ in 2007. The dream to see pilot gig racing return to the Torridge and Taw rivers was realised.
In its 17 years the club has thrived and now boasts a membership of over 120 across all age categories. Equality of opportunity is a fundamental ethos that has made the club a popular choice for all abilities who wish to take part in gig rowing. At the top end we have successful A crews, vets and supervets who in the last 2 years have been provided with a new competition boat, ‘Len White’, built by Peter Williams, and new oars. Our new purpose built gig shed, completed last year after a lot of work from members, has become a very welcome base for our 5 gigs in a very busy village. The new gig and shed have provided a real stimulus to the racing crews who take their training seriously and endeavour to be among the top crews nationally. Our junior section is flourishing and had high hopes of improving on their record at both Hayle and Newquay this season and are all very keen to return to the water.
We continually encourage members to train as coxes with experienced race coxes and coaches, primarily to supply opportunity to the members who wish to row at a social level or who are happy to compete in the less demanding regattas. However, experienced coxes still work with the novice crews and have the opportunity to advance to higher level race coxing if they wish.
To further the opportunity for all abilities to get out in gigs we are now seeking to purchase another plastic gig giving us 3 in all. We are now anxious for a safe return to rowing to build on last year’s success.
In its 17 years the club has thrived and now boasts a membership of over 120 across all age categories. Equality of opportunity is a fundamental ethos that has made the club a popular choice for all abilities who wish to take part in gig rowing. At the top end we have successful A crews, vets and supervets who in the last 2 years have been provided with a new competition boat, ‘Len White’, built by Peter Williams, and new oars. Our new purpose built gig shed, completed last year after a lot of work from members, has become a very welcome base for our 5 gigs in a very busy village. The new gig and shed have provided a real stimulus to the racing crews who take their training seriously and endeavour to be among the top crews nationally. Our junior section is flourishing and had high hopes of improving on their record at both Hayle and Newquay this season and are all very keen to return to the water.
We continually encourage members to train as coxes with experienced race coxes and coaches, primarily to supply opportunity to the members who wish to row at a social level or who are happy to compete in the less demanding regattas. However, experienced coxes still work with the novice crews and have the opportunity to advance to higher level race coxing if they wish.
To further the opportunity for all abilities to get out in gigs we are now seeking to purchase another plastic gig giving us 3 in all. We are now anxious for a safe return to rowing to build on last year’s success.
Photo taken by Smile and Turn
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