BUDE Pilot Gig Club have continued to enjoy success even after the racing season has finished, writes Emily Whelan.

Chloe Rookes, Lily Parker and Maddie Weston from Bude Pilot Gig Club Juniors all competed in the Cornish Schools’ Indoor Rowing Championships on Friday, December 4. Within their age category of around 30 other competitors, the girls finished 9th, 2nd and 1st consecutively.

Chloe Rookes began rowing with the Budehaven Gig team before progressing into Bude Pilot Gig Club. She enjoys the team work aspect of the sport, and finds racing thrilling and motivational. Chloe views her results from the competition as a ‘solid start’ which she can then build on from. She said:“I am ready for this upcoming season — I’m pumped.”

Lily Parker has been rowing for about eight months and enjoys the adrenaline rush the sport creates. Speaking of coming second place, Lily said: “I was so surprised to do that well.”

Maddie Weston is the most experienced rower of the three who competed, and she performs consistently well on both the rowing machines and in the boat. With years of rowing under her belt, Maddie’s first place at the competition tells of her racing success to come.

Steve Coles from the Adults section has also been rowing well during the down season. Steve finished his fourth 26-mile-long marathon at just two hours, 28 minutes and 43 seconds. Steve now ranks first in Great Britain and fourth in the world for all ages.

Steve said: “The Marathon in indoor rowing is hard, mentally and physically, but if you get the pace correct, only mental exhaustion will stop you.”

Steve rows four marathons a year, which coincide with the ‘Holiday Challenge’ hosted by the rowing equipment manufacturers Concept2. If a rower exceeds 100,000 metres during the challenge Concept2 donate $0.04 to charity for every kilometre. Over $19,000 has already been raised this year.

It was Steve’s second marathon which placed him at first in the UK, and his fourth which took him to fourth in the world. During his marathons Steve stated that he loses a horrendous 1kg of sweat per hour.

Steve’s next goal is the ‘Virtual Team Challenge’ (VTC), where team members row for the most metres. The challenge is not based on speed and is very all inclusive; a 70-year-old American woman consistently rows over a million metres in the VTC. Steve usually manages a respectable 600,000-700,000 and his team, ‘Empty the Tanks’, usually do quite well, even though they are up against a septuagenarian superhuman.

Steve is looking forward to the upcoming racing season, stating that it will be “fantastic.”

He added: “The sport is growing and growing. It’s not surprising; a regatta is a great, colourful, sporty day out.

“Add a pasty and a pint, and the Regattas form life-long memories.”

Bude Pilot Gig Club continues to prosper, and their recent success suggests a bright future.