Under 16 Championships 2023

The Under 16 Championships took place on 13th August 2023, rescheduled from a previous date of 15th July. The chosen date meant that the Under 16s could have their own day dedicated to racing, instead of a condensed format over the Newquay Ladies weekend. 

 

Despite the date conflicting with Boardmasters weekend, and a busy period of summer holidays for some competitors, there were still 13 clubs in attendance, competing for the overall Final, Plate Final, Best Mixed Crew, All Girls Crew:

 

• Brixham Gig Club
• Cadgwith Pilot Gig Club
• Dart Gig Club
• Devoran Pilot Gig Club
• Hayle Pilot Gig Club
• Helford River Rowing Club
• Mount’s Bay Pilot Gig Club
• Newquay Rowing Club
• Pendeen Gig Club
• River Fowey Gig Club
• Salcombe Estuary Gig 
• St Mary’s Pilot Gig Club IOS
• Swanage Sea Rowing Club

 

Out of the attending clubs, 22 crews competed.

 

Kernow Weather Team were forecasting southwesterly gusts of up to 35 mph across the region on the Saturday, unfortunately leading to the decision to postpone regattas, including Saturday at Porthleven. Thankfully, Sunday morning brought calmer conditions and patches of blue breaking through overcast skies, with the bay at Newquay looking ideal for a day of racing. 

 

Round 1 of Race 1 got underway in good time with St Mary’s A coming in first, followed by St Mary’s B then Fowey, before a short break to allow for changing tides in the harbour.

The Stream Team spent their day at Fly Cellars, battling with challenging internet connectivity, perhaps due to the influx of visitors enjoying the weekend at Boardmasters. The team was comprised of Steve Strachan “The Drone Guy”, Shelley Strachan on camera operating, Beckie Chudleigh on photography with Dave Jane and Loic Bojamee on commentary. High winds and rain into the afternoon unfortunately grounded the drone for safety reasons.

 

Following the morning break, the racing commenced, with an increasing swell providing extra challenge for the crews. Soundtracked by cheers from family and friends off the harbour wall, the crews battle their way down the final stretch of the course back into the harbour.

 

Final:

St Mary’s A

St Mary’s B

River Fowey A

 

Plate Final:

St Mary’s C

Salcombe

Helford

 

Best Mixed Crew – Mount’s Bay

Best All Girls Crew – Dart

 

Jacob and Solly from St Mary’s A and Arlo and Oliver from St Mary’s B were excited to have taken first and second spots on the podium:

 

“It was great to look across the water at the other crew and knowing we were going to take 1st and 2nd place. We train together and fill in for each other so we’re all very close and happy for each other’s accomplishments.”

The enthusiasm from the St Mary’s crews is palpable and there is a strong sense of camaraderie between them, even if the B crew, as they told me, were secretly hoping the A crew would catch a crab to allow them to slide into the top spot.

 

Throughout the summer, the crew from St Mary’s will train three times a week with weekly races taking place on a Friday. Throughout the school year, the crews will generally head out several times a week after school, which has proven to be more challenging for Jacob and Solly, who this year were sitting their GCSEs before heading off to college in September.

 

With the original U16 Championships postponed due to inclement weather, the crew were grateful for a few extra weeks to train.

 

We also chatted to the Best Girls Crew from Dart, comprised of Flo, Emma, Lily, Neve, Romy and Mabel: 

 

“It’s tricky being an all girls crew going up against boys crews taking part in a junior Championships which don’t have separate girl and boy categories. We loved it though and as an U15 crew, we have rowed together as a crew for 3 years now”

Back on the shore, the club volunteers worked away providing refreshments for the visiting clubs, a steady stream of bacon baps, pasties, homemade cakes and hot drinks being supplied throughout the day.

 

The presentations were introduced by Lt Col Richard Trant, the Chairman of the Cornwall Heritage Trust, who also sponsored the shields, glasses and trophies at the event. Richard spoke about teamwork and skills learned from gig rowing at a young age that are transferable into later life. 

 

“It was a good day and we had plenty of luck with the weather. Looking around, there are lots of smiling faces, and people who enjoyed the rowing – we couldn’t have asked for more!

 

Thanks for Cornwall Heritage Trust for donating the shields, glasses and trophies and to the CPGA for their input and help with registration and organisation prior to the event”

Natalie Trebilcock