County crews converged at Queen Anne’s Battery in Plymouth for the 2025 National County Championships (NCC) which took place on the Cattewater. Originally planned for Saturday 4th October, the event was rescheduled to Saturday 18th October due to adverse weather. While the rescheduling sadly affected the attendance of some county sides, Cornwall, Devon, and Dorset were all represented, ensuring strong competition across the categories.
Photo credit: Mark Gilronan
The NCC celebrates the very best in Cornish Pilot Gig rowing, with competitors racing as county representative sides rather than individual clubs, giving rowers the opportunity to showcase their skills on an inter-county level. With racing across all junior and adult categories on the same day, the championships featured a full spectrum of ages and abilities, from U14s to Masters. Crews tackled the challenging Cattewater course, contending with the autumn tide and brisk October conditions, producing some impressive performances.
Photo credit: Mark Gilronan
Women’s Racing Highlights:
- Women’s Vets: Cornwall topped the podium in Amazon, followed by Dorset in and Devon in Len White in third.
- Women’s U25: Cornwall in Helford claimed first place, with Dorset in Young Bristol in second.
- Women’s Senior: Cornwall jumped off the start in Amazon with Dorset in Brydian staying in touch up the first leg. Cornwall pulled away to finish in first place, Dorset in second and Devon in Len White in third.
- Girls U14: Dorset in Peveril celebrated a well deserved win over Cornwall in Govenek and Devon in Endurance.
- Girls U16: Cornwall’s Amazon pushed Devon’s Len White into second place, leaving Dorset’s Peveril in third.
- Women’s U18: Cornwall in Amazon stretched out a significant lead over Devon in Len White, with Dorset in Winspit in third
- Women’s Super Vets: Cornwall in Zawn found an early lead over Devon in Lightning and Dorset in Brydian before securing a convincing win.
- Women’s Masters: Despite an early lead by Devon in Lightning, Cornwall in Zawn reeled them in and had gained clear water before the first mark ahead. They maintained their lead ahead of Devon leaving Dorset to finish third in Brydian.
- Women’s Mixed: Cornwall in Amazon pulled ahead leaving the two Dorset crews in Winspit and Len White to tussle up the first leg, with Winspit securing the second place position.
Photo credit: Mark Gilronan
Open Racing Highlights:
- Open Senior: Cornwall triumphed in Zawn, with Dorset in Winspit second and Devon in Lightning in third.
- Open Vets: Devon seized an early lead in Endurance with Cornwall in Govenek chasing throughout the race followed by Dorset in Peveril.
- Open U25: Dorset had a powerful start in Winspit and continued to pull away from Cornwall in Zawn throughout the race, finishing with a significant lead.
- Open U14: Cornwall in Kensa crossed the line ahead of Devon in Wasp and Dorset in Top Catch.
- Open U16: Cornwall took top honours in Helford followed by Devon in Pegasus and Dorset in Templer.
- Open Super Vets Cornwall in Govenek led the way over Devon in Endurance and Dorset in Top Catch.
- Open U18: Cornwall impressed in Helford some lengths ahead of Dorset in Templer who were closely chased by Devon in Pegasus.
- Open Masters: A positive start from Devon in Endurance helped the crew to hold Govenek at bay. Despite close racing throughout the race Devon prevailed leaving Cornwall to chase them and Dorset in Top Catch in third.
- Open Mixed: Close competition for the last race led to perhaps the most gripping race of the day with a determined Dorset crew in Brydian chasing Cornwall in Govenek and overtaking on the final leg. A Dorset crew in Helford followed in third place.
Photo credit: Mark Gilronan
Although Cornwall retained the winning form established in previous years, Devon and Dorset both demonstrated progress securing more podium success than ever before. Dorset secured 3 wins and 6 second place positions pushing Devon into overall third place with 2 wins and 7 second place positions. Dorset also fielded more crews than any other county, fulfilling every possible category, showing an unparalleled breadth and depth of squad that holds promise for future years. The strength of junior and youth participation across all county sides is a testament to the work of the selection teams.
Photo credit: Mark Gilronan
The presentation of medals by CPGA Trustees brought the day to a conclusion with a lively crowd filling the courtyard as race officials and Stream Team members headed to shore to warm up.
Photo credit: Mark Gilronan
Claire Tripp, CPGA said, “The prospect of delivering the NCC and Masters Championships in a single day at this new venue was daunting but the tremendous support from the community, volunteers and event hosts made all 26 races happen, even with shipping movements taking place! There are too many people to mention – but a particularly huge thank you to the boat towers, race officials and pontoon marshalls, and of course a special thanks to the Royal Western Yacht Club for hosting and Coxside Gig Club for supporting the event. The selectors and athletes have invested so much time and effort in this fixture so it is a great relief to have defeated the adverse weather before the end of the 2025 season.”
Photo credit: Mark Gilronan
The NCC provided a fantastic opportunity for rowers from different clubs to work together and for competitors from across the counties to come together, exchange experiences, and celebrate their sport. With over 52 crews competing across 18 races, the event highlighted both the competitive spirit and the strong sense of community that characterises Cornish Pilot Gig rowing.
Photo credit: Mark Gilronan
Photo credit: Mark Gilronan
The full results can be found here.
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