Roadford Races Round 2

Thank you to Adam Benjamin for providing the following race report. 

Pre-WPGC race training was in full swing on Saturday as Boscastle & Crackington Gig Club hosted the second of four planned winter regattas for gig clubs based on or near the north coast of Devon and Cornwall. 

Eight clubs braved the hail and bracing conditions to arrive early for a busy day of racing. Eleven plastic gigs were readied waterside as the BBQ got going and the tea urn gurgled.

With Roadford lake at 104% of its normal ‘full’ capacity, space on dry land was at a premium. Clubs huddled together on the available grass and hard standing, making for a great atmosphere and great banter between clubs with long rivalries and even longer friendships.

Comments such as “What’s our new racing start again?” and “I don’t remember this being so hard” could be heard as the gigs made their way across the calm lake waters to the start line. 

Photo credit: G&B Gig Photography

 

With categories of all age-groups, the races came thick and fast. Boscastle set the tone in the first race with a first and second place finish in the Women’s B category, and another one-two in the Women’s Vets race. Boscastle’s women will be brimming with confidence as the World Championships get ever closer. 

Particularly pleasing for Boscastle was a first ever victory for their junior (under 17) crew – Lewis, Jacob, Rowan, EJ and Iz, with Aria from Tamar & Tavy. The club only formed a junior team in 2023. 

After the race, Dan Booker, the crew’s lead cox, was full of praise for this fantastic group of young people. He said: “They are the best. Each and every one of them has learnt how to row much quicker than any adult I know. Every time they get in a gig they are fitter and faster than they were before. They’re a proper asset to the club and we couldn’t be prouder of them.”

As the sausages and cakes were consumed, and as the trampled grass increasingly turned to mud, the racing continued. Appledore’s Verbena enjoyed four victories, including a clean sweep of wins for their Men’s A, Vets and Super Vets crews. Watch out for them at the WPGC!

Last but not least on the schedule were the Men’s and Women’s Masters races, for those older, wiser rowers. With a Masters race added to the schedule at the World Championships, there was an added edge to this encounter. Torridge and Appledore took home the spoils. Boscastle’s women, with a combined age of ‘never you mind’ and their men, amassing 397 years between them, gave their all in what were both properly competitive races. 

 

Photo credit: G&B Gig Photography

As the gigs were lifted onto their trailers and the marquees were packed away, the chat was very much along the lines of “bring on Round 3!”

The third round of the Roadford Races Winter League will take place on 23rd March, with Bude cooking the burgers again for this one!

Boscastle & Crackington Gig Club are grateful to South West Lakes Trust for the use of their fantastic Roadford facility. Club members love rowing at Roadford and are proud to share the lake with the gig rowing community.

Club Chair Paul Cook expressed thanks to all those who helped with the event, “Steve Heard Butchers of Camelford were responsible for keeping rowers fuelled throughout the day. Also, the huge number of volunteers who worked tirelessly all day to make the event such a success, with Melanie coordinating them all to perfection. Thanks to Andy for  fantastic on-water work and G & B Gig Photography for capturing the day in pictures. And a huge thank you to Boscastle’s brilliant members who did everything else to make the day happen. It just wouldn’t have happened without you.”

 

 

Results for Round 2 are as follows: 

Women’s A  – Ilfracombe 

Women’s B – Boscastle 

Women’s Vets – Boscastle  

Women’s Super Vets – Boscastle 

Women’s Masters – Appledore 

 

Men’s A – Appledore 

Men’s B – Ilfracombe 

Men’s Vets – Appledore 

Men’s Super Vet – Appledore 

Men’s Masters – Torridge 

 

U16’s – Boscastle & Crackington  

 

Photo credit: G&B Gig Photography

 

Overall points are as follows: 

Verbena (Appledore) 53

Barrel Rock (Bude) 89

Birlanda (Tamar & Tavy) 108

Jan Rogers (Boscastle & Crackington Haven) 110

Phillipa J (Barnstable) 116

Rose of Torridge (Torridge) 119

Hocks (Ilfracombe) 120

Porthkragon (Boscastle & Crackington Haven) 131

Larkstone (Ilfracombe) 177

Headon Home (Clovelly) 198