BUDE Pilot Gig Club enjoyed their best ever results at the 29th World Pilot Gig Championships over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The event started on the Friday evening with the Ladies and Men’s Veterans race from St Agnes to St Mary’s in some of the best sea conditions seen for ten years.

Saturday then saw the start of the heats for both men and ladies’ crews, rowing from St Agnes to St Mary’s in a mass start of over 160 boats, the largest number ever entered!

For the first time, Bude fielded an A and B ladies crew thanks to one of the Scillies clubs lending them the gig, Nornour.

In the afternoon, the teams took part in the Tresco to St Mary’s race with clubs seeded into groups.

The aim was to stay within your group of 12 or finish in the top two to move up into the next group.

Sunday saw the first heats cancelled due to foggy conditions, leaving only the finals to take place in the afternoon.

On the Saturday, the men’s team, who were rowing in their Bedehaven gig, had managed to move up into Group J, so in the final to come fifth was seen as a great result.

The ladies ‘A’ had rowed well all weekend and managed to finish 63rd, which was the highest position obtained since the club began.

If you would like to try pilot gig rowing, Bude Pilot Gig Club meet at Upper Tamar Lake on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

For more information, email [email protected] or call 07970 643502.