The Jurassic Gig Rowing League returns for 2022

The ten participating clubs taking part in the Jurassic League are all really excited to see its return. Bridport, Combwich, Exmouth, Langstone, Lyme Regis, Poole, Portland, Sidmouth, Swanage, and Weymouth last met in Poole in 2019 to celebrate the end of a season of gig racing. Since the start of Covid, clubs have kept in contact with Zoom meetings during Lockdown, offering each other support and guidance and sharing ideas on how to create a safe return to their much-loved sport.

The Jurassic Gig Rowing League will look a little different for 2022 with two exciting changes.

The point scoring categories have been extended to include a Mens and Ladies Supervets race which now means the point scoring categories will include – Mens and Ladies A and B races, Mens and Ladies Vets and Supervets and Mixed races. Good news for new rowers enjoying their first dip into gig rowing and racing and really encouraging to include a Supervets category for some of the most competitive rowers!

Probably the most exciting news is the introduction of a dedicated Junior Jurassic Regional Under 16s Gig Rowing League to run in tandem with the Adult League. This Junior Jurassic League, which is believed to be the first of its kind, is designed to introduce and promote Cornish Pilot Gig Rowing throughout the region and offers a fantastic opportunity to engage with more young people. It is the first to be established within the CPGA and it will also encourage clubs who presently do not have junior rowers to take some positive action to involve young people into the sport.
Every Jurassic League club hosting a regatta will include a Junior U16s race and all clubs are invited to use this as a showcase to other clubs presently without Junior crews.

Jurassic clubs are fortunate to have the continued sponsorship from AEP Compressed Air Technologies who have sponsored the Jurassic League since its introduction. They are keen to be associated with the sport of Gig Rowing and with their headquarters in Honiton, it makes them perfectly placed near all the action. This year they will extend their sponsorship to the exciting new Jurassic Junior Gig Rowing League by providing medals to the top placed three junior crews at each Regatta plus a Trophy to the League Winning Crew at the end of the season.

The five clubs who will hold the Point Scoring Jurassic Regattas for 2022 are –

Weymouth 28th May

Swanage 18th June

Bridport 2nd July

Langstone 30th July

Lyme Regis 13th August

Sidmouth, Exmouth, and Poole will hold Regattas that will be well attended and supported, but these will not be Point Scoring towards the Jurassic League. Combwich and Portland are unable to hold Regattas due to restrictions with their locations. Moving forward clubs will ensure that the Point Scoring Regatta allocation is fairly shared amongst Jurassic clubs at the start of each year.