Here are our highlights from the World Pilot Gig Championships in 2008:
Radio Scilly was the only radio station with non-stop coverage of the event with reporters James Watt, Dan Hodgson,Selena Thomas, Dan Jones, Steve Watt, Jeremy Pearson,Becky Campion and Craig Dryden. You can hear a collection of our reports in mp3 format below.
Our coverage was brought to you with St Austell Brewery. Thanks as well to Coodes Solictors. They provided the Championships with a roof for the Tunnel tent, too!
Melvyn Roberts of Porthloo has recorded a version of "Out on the Ocean" on harmonica and has dedicated it to all the St Mary's gig crews and the Scillyboys who are "rowing for home".
Right click and save this mp3 onto your computer to hear Melvyn's music
The official results are here. Click to download details of the final positions.
Audio Listen-Again
This is our gig coverage montage featuring Mark Twyneham, Maggie Tucker, Kevin Pyne, Kevin Sherris that we played a lot on the first day of the event.
The Friday Montage
We have split our listen again coverage into the four days of the event : Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Those days have been subdivided into visitor, islander or organiser categories so it should make it easier to find what you are looking for! In theory!
Friday coverage on 107.9 FM Radio Scilly:
Organiser interviews broadcast on Friday :
Vice Chair Kevin Sherris says he can't wait for the start
Chair Rick Persich says they have had to hurridly erect the tunnel food area
Dave Townend explains how GPS will be used to make races fair
Sophie Hughes from the Tourist Information Centre says most visitors know what they want and few come in and ask for help
Noram Edwards from the Cornwall World Gig Association says they would have done whatever they could to get the gigs over after the Steamship Company had to take the Gry Maritha out of service urgently
Rhona Holland talks about disputed results
Craig Dryden explains (badly) what his role of beach marshall entails. Grant Tucker tells us that Craig has been given an unusual nickname by visitors.
Grant Tucker explains his role in setting up the tunnel
Selena Thomas spoke to the Falmouth Ladies- the favourites for the Friday Ladies Vets before the race
Visitor interviews broadcast on Friday:
The Dutch rowers from Scheveninghen have been made to feel at home. Sheila from Auriga Guest House has decorated her home in Dutch colours
The Dutch Ladies issue a special message to their Dutch rivals!
We talk to the Team Saquish crew who have travelled furthest. They have come to row from Plymouth, Mass, USA
The Saquish rowers ahead of the Friday Night Ladies' vets race
Kev Pyne from South Devon and Scilly's Kev Sherris predict who they think will win on the Friday morning show
Kev Pyne from Dartmouth with Radio Scilly's Steve Watt
Carolyn Trickey of Falmouth was diagnosed with Breast Cancer last year just before she rowed. She's back to raise funds with the Falmouth Double-D crew. (Big Mp3 file- may take a few mins to download)
Clovelly Gig Club members Fiona and Dominique talk to Dan Hodgson
Caradon Gig Club men talk to Radio Scilly on the Friday of the Championships
Coverack Gig Club predict the winners
Lyndsey from Appledore Gig Club
Charlestown Gig Club on the Friday before the event started
Richard Wilcox of Radio Scilly with 3 of the Caradon men on Friday afternoon
Helen Nance of the Rame gig club was rowing in the Friday Evening Vets race
Islander interviews broadcast on Friday:
Richard Mills talks about training users of the donated Powercats safety boats
Maggie Perkovic is looking forward to serving food in the tunnel
Kev Sherris is looking forward to rowing in the men's vets race on Friday
Joel Williams, Chair of the IOS Gig Association
Tim Garratt is one of the 4 men, the Scillyboys, who will row for home from New York. He talks about the nerves you experience in a gig race final. Dr Vic Heaney talks about the Scillyboys fundraising
Gig weekend is a busy time for business. Paul Osbourne and his team just managed to get the refurbished Kavorna open in time.
Sgt Ashley Putman talks about how the police have worked with publicans
John Nicholls, Hon Sec of St Mary's Lifeboat, talks about gig weekends in the past and high jinx in The Mermaid. This is a large file (5mb) and it may take a few seconds to download
Eleanor Breen, our history feature presenter, broadcast a special piece on gig history
The Tregarthens Crew- Sonia spoke to Selena on Friday night ahead of the Ladies' Vets Race
Minutes to go before the Ladies' Vets race. How are Cath Sherris' nerves?
Saturday Coverage from Radio Scilly
Organisers:
Kevin Sherris says the event takes a great deal of organising
Islanders:
Toby Tobin-Dougan talks with Mandy Williams of St Martins
It's a busy time for bar staff. We hear from Dave from the Scillonian Club and Rachel from the Porthcressa Inn
The Tregarthens Girls broadcast on Saturday after their Friday Night Ladies Vets 7th Place position
Selena reviews the Friday events and talks about the rest of the weekend with Keri. The piece includes Maggie Tucker talking about the food in the Tunnel and Kev Pyne of Dartmouth talking about the atmosphere.
Joby Newton is in the Emperor and will be rowing across the Atlantic. He spoke to Craig Dryden
Craig talks to Father Guy
Nicole Steffan and Charlotte Sibley give their views on the racings
Craig talks with the Emma Louise crew
Craig Dryden talks to the girls who rowed the Bonnet
Sunday coverage
Officials
Kev Sherris with the official results
Visitors:
Sue Watt, a former Scilly resident, now rows for Mounts Bay and talks to Selena then there's a chat with Caradon Ladies A crew members
Esther, from the Falmouth A Crew, talks to Craig
Craig Dryden talks to Beano Cartoonist Nick Brennan, a Falmouth E Vets Crew rower
Coverack rowers say they get nervous ahead of a race
Selena Thomas talks to Newquay A team rowers including Annabel Bennett
Dan Hodgson talks with a Zennor crew member
Roseland supporter Robin Edwards designed a double-decker gig trailer that created much interest on The Strand
Robin talks about transporting gigs and we hear from the Isles Of Scilly Steamship Company's Amy Hiron about the moving of gigs to Scilly
Selena talks with Les Rowe, Jethro's brother in The Mermaid
Selena goes onboard The Bold Lancer to watch the long line up for the first ladies race from St Agnes and talks to the owner and skipper John Bolitho
David from the Devoran crew on Saturday afternoon
The American crew talk with Radio Scilly after the Saturday races
Sunday coverage on Radio Scilly
Officials on Sunday
Kev Sherris with the end-of-chamionship results
Islander interviews broadcast on Sunday
Craig Dryden with the St Martins Galatea Ladies crew
Craig with the czar girls
Breaking news- Nornour men disqualified. Keri, Steve and Selena
Nornour disqualiied for cheating. Rower James Watt gives his reaction and the official reason from Vice Chair of the committee, Kevin Sherris
Craig with Emma Louise crew including Dee Williams of St Martins
Amy Hiron and the Bonnet Crew
The closing speeches broadcast live from Holgates Green from Andrew May, Chairman of the Isles Of Scilly Steamship Company, Rick Perisch Chairman of the World Pilot Gigs Committee and Christine Savill, Chairman of the Council of the Isles Of Scilly
Steve Watt is almost carried away by the crowd on Holgates Green!
Selena with the partying Emma Louise crew on Sunday evening
Visitors featured on Sunday
Dan Hodgson talks to the Appledore crew who have brought their own gig, Will to win, for the first time
The Bristol B team and captain Lucy talk to Dan Jones
Sue and Simon are from St Agnes in Cornwall
The Dutch Crew in The Jubilee win their heat
Milly Edwards comes over to organise the traditional islanders versus mainlanders Rugby game on the Garrison on the Bank Holiday. He tells James Watt about the fundraising this year and the history of the annual match, which we lost- 2 tries to 1!
Craig caught up with the Ladies from Falmouth who formed the Double D breast cancer charity crew
The Torridge Crew
Selena talks with Jonathon Ball
Selena chats with the Falmouth Ladies
Craig talks with Lee, an HMS Brocklesby Navy Clearance Diver who is helping clean the beach
Selena with Norma Williams
The Charlestown womens crew came second in the final. Craig talked to them.
The women from Porthgain in West Wales spoke to Dan Jones after their race. They had a secret for success!
Celebrating with the crew from Clovelly and the Saquish team from the United States
Craig with the Falmouth A mens crew
The winning Mounts Bay Kensa Crew
The Mounts Bay supporters were very loud!
Gary Rich of the Mounts Bay crew with Dan Jones
Craig with the Caradon A cox
Monday coverage from Radio Scilly
Visitors interviewed
The Paignton Crew were partying on Sunday night at St Martins and Toby Tobin-Dougan, our St Martins reporter, filed this report
Islanders featured on Monday
Craig meets the "unofficial" St Mary's A crew, on the pop in Tregarthens on Sunday night. Duncan Graham, Ian Sibley, James Fletcher and Joel Williams are part of the mayhem
COMMENTARY
We cannot put all of the commentary online as it would take forever for you to download such large files. We have edited highlights, though.
Keri and James preview the Saturday afternoon events
Here is the end of the Ladies' Vets Race on Friday night. Radio Scilly presenters Jeremy Pearson and Becca Campion are commentators.
Ladies First Round Coverage montage including a chat with the Charlestown Gig Cox of the Waterwitch
Sunday women's final coverage. This is a montage of the first boats to finish in each heat
Saturday coverage of the first men's race from St Agnes. Steve Watt commentates and Craig talks to the winning Kensa crew
The Mens Final on Sunday and Kensa win. Hear the boats cross the line in each of the heats in this montage
