Portishead Pilot Gig Club have just returned from their fourth World Championships and have achieved some of their best ever results with their biggest ever attendance at the event on the Isles of Scilly. With real logistics challenges from the weather meaning some rowers arrived 90 minutes before their race start it was an incredible achievement to be able to get everyone and their crews to the start line.
Friday was the turn of the vets and super vets. Ladies kicked off and put in some brilliant performances. Vets achieved 28th out of 44, the Supervets A came 25/50 and the B crew placed 46th. These were impressive performances in choppy and challenging conditions over their two races and after such early starts. In the men’s races, they were hampered by the weather. Both the vets and supers placed impressively in their first long race but their shorter race was cancelled due to the fog. They eventually raced on Saturday with the vets coming 13th out of 30 – their best ever placing. The supervets were incredible finishing 7th overall, out of 43 teams. With an average age of 63, and with a stoke rower aged 72, it’s an absolutely brilliant achievement and has put Portishead firmly on the map in gig rowing beating some long established and top clubs in the process.
The open crews (aged 16 – 39) had a big act to follow and they did it brilliantly. With young inexperienced crews, with 4 members having just come up from junior section (the youngest rower being only 16) they showed tenacity and strength to battle hard in their four gruelling races. With oar clashes, photo finishes, blisters and sun burn, all crews had to dig deep during all their races so their hardwork and hours of practice really paid off. The ladies open A (with their stroke being only 17) finished an impressive 79/122, ladies B battled to 115th and the men finished strongly in 93rd out of 123.
“We are so proud of what we achieved this weekend. Our super vets shone and really showed that age is just a number! For them to come 7th in the world is a phenomenal achievement! In gig rowing terms, we are still a relatively new club, and many of our other crews had never experienced the magic and mayhem of the World Championships before. We are incredibly proud that our young former junior members slotted in so well and really lead by example. The whole club supported and encouraged them and it was great to see them so well integrated into the club and performing at such a high level. The Scillies are brutal races and they absolutely gave it their all. Huge well done to everyone – including the support crew, many left their voices somewhere on the island! It was a true team effort.”
