Teams compete in veteran gig rowing championships

News imageCornish Pilot Gig Association A side-on image of a crews sat in two gigs with oars out of the water as they race.Cornish Pilot Gig Association
The second day of the World Pilot Gig Championships took place on Saturday

The second day of the World Pilot Gig Championships on the Isles of Scilly has seen the finals of the ladies and men's veteran and super veterans' races.

Some 481 crews of six rowers and a cox are registered to compete until Sunday.

Falmouth in Fury led in the Women's Vets category, followed by Mounts Bay in Ictis and Caradon in An Showrlann in third. The Women's Super Vets saw the newly-formed Helford River crew win against last year's winners Teign in Teign Spirit and Salcombe in Bolt.

In the Open Vets race, Devon celebrated success after Appledore in Whitford took first place, with Caradon in An Dhowrlann second, followed by Dart in Smudger in third and Bude in Summerleaze in fourth place.

News imageHelford Women's SV Winners Cox - Gary Jago 6 - Becks Campbel 5 - Dee Williams 4 - Mel Williams 3 - Hattie Walker 2 - Catherine Nancarrow 1 - Sue Gibson stood beside a green boat.
Mel William said the newly formed groups were "underdogs"

Mel Williams from Helford River Super Vets said it was "really tough."

She said: "We came into this race as the underdogs.

"We're quite a new crew, so we didn't really know where we were going to be."

Williams said to be at the front with Teign at the beginning was "amazing", and "they were well ahead of us at the start line".

She said: "We literally just crawled up and up.

"It was an absolute mental game. We just had to believe we could do it."

LISTEN: Salcombe Gig Club win multiple medals at World Championships

On Saturday, Falmouth Gig Club won the Women's Veteran's World Title, while Salcombe Gig Club win multiple medals at World Championships including bronze in Women's Super Vets and silver in Women's Masters.

The berths and results can be found on the World Pilot Gig Championships' website.

LISTEN: Falmouth Gig Club win the Women's Veteran's World Title

Sgt Al Jordan, from the Isles of Scilly Police, said it was his fifth time working at the event and there was a "fantastic" atmosphere.

"Everybody's here to have a good time... It's so far so good."

"We're very unique over here and we strive on having that community and neighbourhood policing style.

"We make sure everyone is having a good time and we're here to help. If people misbehave, we're here to deal with it."

He said the police force's message was "have a great time but have a safe time" and to drink responsibly.

Jordan said: "We enjoy it as much as everyone else."

LISTEN: Policing the World Pilot Gig Championships

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