Helford Mini-Scillies: Testing The Competition

Thank you to Helford River Gig Cub and Maddie Spink for this race day write up!

The Helford Mini Scillies, held on Saturday, March 22nd, marked the last big event before the World Pilot Gig Championships, drawing a mix of seasoned rowers and newcomers to the stunning Helford River. Despite the challenging weather conditions, the day was filled with competitive energy, camaraderie, and an unforgettable spectacle for both competitors and spectators.

The Helford Mini Scillies took place on the picturesque Helford River, with a demanding course designed to replicate the World Championship’s St Agnes race, along with the shorter Nut Rock races for the Women and Open categories. With its mix of moorings and strong winds, the course offered plenty of challenges for the 108 crews from 26 clubs that took part, testing the stamina and skill of all competitors.

Despite a cold, mizzly morning, the weather cleared up slightly in the afternoon, bringing a stiff breeze. The conditions provided both a challenge and a spectacle, as rowers battled against the gusty winds while navigating the tricky river conditions.

The Women’s race, facing strong headwinds, saw Voose from Helford claim victory, followed by Spurr from Truro and Ann Glanville from Caradon. The Open race saw an exciting finish, with the crew from Falmouth, rowing in Arwenack, taking the top spot, closely followed by Pedn Billy (rowed by Looe), Voose from Helford and Ann Glanville from Caradon.

In addition to the Women’s and Open races, the Helford Mini Scillies also featured intense competition in the Vets, Super Vets, and Masters categories. 

Here are the top finishers:

Open Vets
1st: Falmouth in Arwenack
2nd: Caradon in Ann Glanville
3rd: Penryn in Morlader

Open Super Vets
1st: Roseland in Polvarth
2nd: Falmouth in Buller
3rd: Cotehele Quay in Govenek

Open Masters
1st: Helford in Voose
2nd: Helford in Helford
3rd: Falmouth in Black Rock

Women’s Vets
1st: Falmouth in Black Rock
2nd: Charlestown in Spriggan
3rd: Caradon in Ann Glanville

Women’s Super Vets
1st: Helford in Helford
2nd: Fowey in Q
3rd: Coverack in Morah

Women’s Masters
1st: Falmouth in Arwenack
2nd: Helford in Elowen (kindly loaned by Mevagissey)
3rd: Flushing & Mylor in Seraphina

Congratulations to all the crews for their outstanding performances in these categories!

The Helford Mini Scillies wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of everyone at Helford River Gig Club, who coordinated the event flawlessly. A special thanks goes to Mylor Mooring Services Ltd, who provided their skippered and coded safety rib as the safety boat for the event. Their support ensured the safety of all competitors and helped the event run smoothly.

We are also incredibly grateful to our raffle sponsors, whose contributions added an extra touch of excitement to the day. The following businesses generously donated prizes for the raffle:

• Holly Woodman Textiles
• Fourth Element
• Parish Products
• Cornwall Swim Company
• Emma Roskilly Dahlias
• Vicky’s Bread
• Loveday Gin
• Bailey’s Country Store
• Escape Sauna
• St Austell Brewery
• Origin Coffee

These local businesses helped make the event even more special, and we appreciate their support.

We’d also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers, race officials, and helpers from Helford River Gig Club and the wider community. Their tireless efforts behind the scenes were invaluable, from setting up the event to ensuring the races ran smoothly. Without them, the event would not have been possible, and we are immensely grateful for their support.