The World Pilot Gig Championships on the Isles of Scilly brought double success for the River Fowey Gig Club who celebrated getting both the Men's and Ladies A teams into the finals.
The standard for the weekend was set on Friday evening when the Fowey Ladies Super Vets, affectionately known locally as 'Derrick's Old Dears', achieved their best result since formation.
The River Fowey Gig Club felt it was going to be a weekend to remember, and after strong showings in both the long race and the sprint sections, both the Men's and Ladies A teams ventured into the finals together for the first time in years.
The pressure was on both teams as they hit the water alongside some of the bigger gig clubs in the region, and despite being underdogs, a mix of hard winter training and the dedication of coxing pair, James Cockley and Joeli Norman, both teams battled to fifth place finishes.
Jon Rolls, a rower with the Men's A team, said: "River Fowey is one of the oldest clubs on the circuit, and we constantly produce consistent results.
"Although we have struggled for numbers over the last couple of years, our crews have turned a big corner with a number of new members joining and an emphasis on youth development."
This year the club have welcomed rowers aged 17 to 70 into their ranks as the club remains at the heart of the community.
As the racing made way for the celebrations, James Cockley, Men's A rower and Ladies A coxen, thanked the teams for their hard work.
James added: "It has been a brilliant weekend, the most enjoyable ever."
Jon Rolls believes the secret to the success enjoyed by the small Fowey gig club lies in the spirit within the ranks.
"Whether you've finished 5th in the world or 92nd, everyone has come away from this with amazing memories, experiences and above all, stronger friendships," he said.
"We're all in it together and you work your socks off for each other, nobody shirks their responsibility, it's the ultimate team sport in my opinion and everyone can take part, young or old."
River Fowey Gig Club train on the beautiful River Fowey and open their doors to both novices and the more experienced rowers.
No experience is needed, so if you fancy joining them for a leisurely row, or want to compete at the highest levels then check out their website or twitter for more details: http://foweygigclub.blogspot.co.uk/ .
