TAMAR and Tavy?s pilot gig Ginette and her range of crews made their mark at the 17th World Pilot Gig Championships on the Isles of Scilly over the Bank Holiday demonstrating the value of hard work and team spirit. First up on the Friday evening were the veteran crews which fought their way through weather far removed from what the river-based club is used to. They demonstrated enormous grit and it seemed a shame effort is not always reflected in results. The vet men, coxed by David Dawe, were John Rogers, Peter Sellers, Simon Bruce, Bruce Horner, Rob Smith and Peter Clark, and were the final finishers in their race. The ladies vets, coxed by Bill Stacey-Norris back on the water after an enforced leave of absence, were Debbie Vojkovic, Ruth Walker, Helen Lloyd, Penny Twine, Maggie Cartwright and Nicky Sellers, and finished in penultimate position. Saturday morning at the Championships saw the seeding race for both the men?s and ladies? titles, a line up of all crews at St Agnes and a scramble to St Mary?s. The finishing position of a crew in this race determines its starting position in the heats, of which there are three before the titles of men?s and ladies? World Champion are claimed on the Sunday afternoon. Coxed by Jack Baker the ladies had a clean swift run to St Mary?s finishing 13th out of 86 finding themselves at the top of their heat for their next race. The crew, stroke Kate Reeves, Chrissie Baker, Julie Williams, Sam Adlam, Helen Dickenson, Nicky Sellers finished the weekend well up in the field, 42 places ahead of the club?s placing in its first championships just two years ago. The combination of hard work, tenacity and the subtle knack of Jack to put his crew at ease as they waited for their races paid off and has given Tamar and Tavy Ladies a position they deserve, 17th in the world rankings and one they are determined to improve upon over the season. The club?s men?s crew took to the water with vigour for the big race. Cox Kate Reeves, stroke Ed Hillson, George Hillson, Ian Page, Tom Broadbridge, Nigel Jenkins and John Hillson finished a very neat 41st out of 91 boats in their first race, and held onto their position midfield by the end of the first day?s racing. Sunday morning saw the crew calling on the services of the ladies cox Jack Baker as their own had totally lost her voice over night. The men?s crew faced their final race with a ferocious determination which produced a superb race which they narrowly lost to Salcombe?s Wolf in the final few metres. The crews thanked all those who have backed them in so many ways leading up to the championships. For an opportunity to try your hand at gig rowing and discover its unique attraction, there are newcomers sessions every fortnight at Weir Quay from 5.45pm, starting this Friday. For more information either check out the website http://www.tntgc.org.uk">www.tntgc.org.uk or call Kate Reeves on 07780 934316.
