RAME GIG CLUB- MARCH 2008 NEWSLETTER

CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORD

Last weekend the 2008 season got under way. The 3 Rivers Race traditionally marks the start of the season and is one of only two regattas before the World Championships in the Scillies in May. Training for the season is well under way and it has been encouraging to see a good number of rowers, including some welcome new faces, competing strongly for places in the A and B crews. The boats – as ever – are looking splendid, reflecting the huge amount of effort and care lavished on them by Malcolm Baker.  A full list of events is attached and will, by popular demand, again appear on the 2008 Club membership cards. Please do come along and support the Easter Fun Day on Sunday 23^rd March and the first Club coffee morning of the year on Saturday 29^th March. It is also not too early to put two more dates in your diary: 26^th July is the Rame Regatta and Saturday 8^th August is the Club’s annual River Cruise.  Finally and inevitably, a plug for membership renewal, the forms for which are attached. Please renew your membership promptly by 1^st April. To row you must be covered by the Club’s insurance and to be covered by the Club’s insurance you need to be a member, and to be a member….well you get the idea. See you on the water.  Ivan Hooper

CLUB AGM   The Club AGM took place in the Institute on 18^th January.  Daniel Dalton and Tracey Morcomb were elected to the Club committee while Dick Jenkins, Pat Hocking and Nicci Hastings stood down. Thanks go to Dick, Pat and Nicci for all their efforts in support of the Club over the past years. The AGM reviewed the Club’s finances and recognised the impressive efforts that have gone into fundraising in 2007. Financially we are in good order. However, this needs to be balanced against the need to cover the Club’s running costs, upkeep and ultimately refurbish the Boatshed and offset the depreciation on the 3 boats. Challenging stuff. This year the committee with concentrate on 3 themes:

·         Ensuring that we have a good system in place for selecting and notifying crews and that we strike the right balance between getting winning crews on the water and achieving maximum participation for all Club rowers.

·         Welcoming new members and integrating them properly into the Club and the right crews.

·         Putting the Junior rowers firmly at the centre of Club activity

JUNIOR ROWING   The club fields both U14 and U16 teams at most regattas. Junior rowing will be starting after Easter on Wednesday nights at 5.30pm, contact Malcolm Baker for details. You do need to be 8 or over to row. This year the U14 Championships are on 2 August at Hayle and the U16 on 7 September at Newquay. We have a great Junior Rowing section so come along and give it a try.

3 RIVERS RACE   A good start to the season with Mens and Ladies A and B crews on the water for this long course, which takes in the Tamar, Tavy and Lyner Rivers. The Mens A in Minnadhu came in 16^th in 51.55 min and the Mens B achieved a very creditable 30^th in a time of 55.20 min. The Ladies A gained our highest place with 12^th in 57.14 min and the Ladies B 27^th in 1.04.57 min in Penlee Point.

HEADLINES FROM THE CPGA   The Cornish Pilot Gig Association AGM took place at Fraddon in January. For various reasons the CPGA has had a challenging year but work is in hand to ensure that the Association keeps pace with what is a fast growing sport. For it to do this, it seems almost inevitable that the cost of club or individual membership of the CPGA will increase in future years but this and other issues are currently under consideration by a number of Association working groups. 8 new boats were built last year with a further 4 under construction this year. The 53rd Club to join the Association is Lyme Regis, and their gig is under construction at the Lyme Regis Boat Academy. This year the CPGA Chairperson's Cup was won by Pendeen Gig Club and The Lizzie Pyne Trophy - for best kept gig over three years old - was won by Salcombe. Maurice Hunkin (Fowey) stepped down from the role of Vice Chair and is succeeded by Jason Nicholas (Padstow); the rest of the committee remains the same.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2008  The 19th World Pilot Gig Championships will take place from Friday the 2^nd of May to Monday the 5^th of May on the Isles of Scilly. This year we will field a total of 7 crews: Mens Vets and Supervets; Ladies Vets; Mens A and B; and Ladies A and B. Minnadhu  and Penlee Point will be leaving early for the Scillies in the last week of March. For the uninitiated, the programme of events starts with the Veteran’s races on Friday night from St Agnes back to St Mary’s Quay. Round 1 of the Men’s and Ladies races follow the same course on Saturday morning with later rounds going from Nut Rock to St Marys and finishing with the Men’s and Ladies finals on Sunday evening. The weekend ends with the Gig Sail Race and the traditional rugby international (Scillies vs  Rest of the World) on Monday. This year The Mens crew will be joined by one of our ex-Junior Rowers Ted Baker. Ted has already started training with the mens crew on the rowing machines along with Josh Wilcox. It is hoped that Josh will join Ted next year in the Mens crew. Our Ladies are joined this year by Birget, Gemma, Katie and Lauren. As always, we will do our best to balance the need to put the best crews on the water to represent the Club, with the desire to get as many of our members rowing in the World Championships as possible. A ‘Bangers and Mash Bash’ has been arranged as a pre-Scillies informal get together and everyone is welcome. The cost is expected to be about £6.50 per person. There will be a veggie alternative on request as well as a pasta dish option.  Please add your name to the list in the Gig Shed or contact Tracey Morecomb on 07791 696624.

WEBSITE   Gill has done a marvellous job building on Nicci’s work, refreshing and keeping up to date the website. However, the site is only as good as the content, and so please do send articles, photographs and even adverts to Gill. You can find the site at http://www.ramegigclub.com/

EVENTS – MARCH TO MAY

MEMBERSHIP   As you will see, membership renewal forms are attached. We have tried to keep the lid on the cost of membership and subscriptions, but have been unable to avoid a modest rise of £5. This still makes us one of the cheapest Clubs in the County and compares favourably with most other sports club memberships. Please do renew promptly and do take advantage of the block payment schemes.

SPIRIT OF RAME – LATEST LIZ JONES PRINT   Finally, Many of you will be familiar with the work of Liz Jones who has produced The Whitsanders, The Cawsanders and many other pictures showing aspects of life in the village. Look out for her latest picture which shows the Club’s 3 gigs on Cawsand beach and has been entitled – at the Clubs suggestion - Spirit of Rame. It has been agreed that the Club will also be able to sell the pictures with a portion of the profits going to the Club.

STOP PRESS – due to the early departure of Minnadhu and Penlee Point (and trailers) For the Scillies the Club will not now be rowing at the Dartmouth regatta.

For more details, contact numbers and fixtures find us at   http://www.ramegigclub.com/