Looe claim U16 Newquay Gig honours in Cornwall
Twenty-five Gig crews converged on Stithians Lake, Cornwall, on Sunday 2 October, for the 2011 Under 16 Newquay Gig Championships.
Organisers from the Newquay Rowing Club took the decision to hold the annual competition on a lake some 25 miles away, after twice seeing the event postponed this year because of inclement weather in Newquay.
The result was a shorter course than Newquay traditionally offers, but with excellent viewing prospects for spectators who could see the majority of the course from the banks of the lake.
Defending champions Cadgwith arrived with a strong all-male crew, as they looked to claim a third consecutive Under 16 Newquay Gig Championship title.
However, the Cadgwith crew faced strong competition, with Carradon, Coverack, and Looe also reaching the four-boat final.
The reigning champions pushed hard all the way in a fiercely-contested final, but the impressive young crew from Looe stormed clear of the field at the close to cross the finishing line as clear winners.
The result was a vindication for Looe, who have spent several years developing their junior crews to produce a richly talented pool of Under 16 rowers.
Coverack finished third in the hard-fought final, while Caradon – whose A crew of three male and three female rowers claimed a seperate shield for the top overall mixed crew – narrowly missed out on a podium finish in fourth.
Final rankings:
1. Looe A
2. Cadgwith A
3. Coverack A
4. Caradon A (also won shield for top mixed crew – 3 male 3 female)
5. Porthleven A
6. Fowey A
