Caradon pilot gig club have won 55 trophies from 16 regattas during the l999 season.
Attending a special evening at Saltash sailing club last week, mayor of Saltash Mona Tomas-zewska, accompanied by her husband and consort John, congratulated the club members, and said she hoped the crews would process through the town with their gigs one day in the spring, and for a civic reception in the Guildhall.
The crews won the world championships at the Isles of Scilly for the fifth year in succession at the start of the season, and to end the season the men's crew took the Dutch national championships in the Netherlands. In the Seacom/Ward Vauxhall championships the men's A and B crews came first and the ladies B crew were also first, with the club being overall winners. The men's crew were also county champions.
Caradon Pilot gig club, based at Saltash sailing club, was formed in l989. They own three gigs - Ann Glanville, Mary Newman and Odessa which is a training gig. In February of next year the gig Ann Glanville, named after a famous oarswoman, will be featured on BBC2's History Zone programme. Ann Glanville's descendants will be interviewed in a series called 'Bloodties'.
During the club's presentation evening last Wednesday chairman John Whyte welcomed Leslie Williams and Bob Thomas from the firm 'Relay', an electrical and mechanical engineering firm. They presented a sponsorship cheque for £750 to the club, which was received by secretary Rose Stuart, who is to become fund raising and publicity secretary. A buffet supper ended the evening.