Mevagissey’s ‘Cornish Pirates’ conquer 21 miles of the Thames

A wooden gig built for short pulls around Mevagissey harbour doesn’t often end up dodging river traffic under Tower Bridge. Last Saturday, one did, red bandanas, St Piran’s crosses and all.

📷Credit: Mevagissey Rowing Club

21.6 miles from Millwall to Richmond

A crew from Mevagissey Rowing Club, rowing as the “Cornish Pirates” for the day, took on the Great River Race on Saturday 12 September, covering 21.6 miles of the River Thames from Millwall to Richmond. It is one of the longest single-day rows in the country, and a very different stretch of water to the one the crew usually trains on.

Getting there took the whole summer. The crew spent months training hard, hauling themselves out of bed for early Sunday sessions and putting in the miles on the water in everything from flat calm to a proper swell, sunshine and rain alike, all building towards the one day in London.

📷Credit: Mevagissey Rowing Club

How the crew got on

The effort showed. Provisional published results, out of 269 boats taking part, had the Mevagissey crew finishing:

• 57th by overall time
• 90th by handicapped time
• 23rd out of the 60 gigs entered
• A total race time of 3 hours, 3 minutes and 19 seconds

📷Credit: Mevagissey Rowing Club

Rowing for Doubletrees School and their own club

The row wasn’t just about the result. The crew took on the Thames to raise money for two causes close to home: Doubletrees School in Par, and the rowing club itself.

Doubletrees provides specialised, inclusive education for children and young people with complex and profound learning disabilities, helping pupils build independence, communication, confidence and life skills. Hannah Dunnington, who set up the fundraising page for the row, has a personal connection to the school.

“As a parent, I know first-hand how invaluable Doubletrees is in supporting my daughter and giving her the opportunity to thrive,” Hannah said.

The other half of the fundraising goes back into Mevagissey Rowing Club, formed in 1986 to keep the Cornish tradition of pilot gig rowing going, and to give people of all ages and abilities a way into a sport built on fitness, friendship and local heritage.

📷Credit: Mevagissey Rowing Club

Still short of the target

The club is currently at 62 per cent of its fundraising target for the two causes, and would love to reach 100 per cent to maximise what gets handed over. Anyone who wants to add to the pot can donate through Hannah Dunnington’s JustGiving page, which has raised £630 in online donations so far, plus gift aid on top.

📷Credit: Mevagissey Rowing Club

📷Credit: Mevagissey Rowing Club