The first Newquay Rowing Club gig race of the year to involve two circuits of the triangular course in Newquay Bay took place and provided a memorable and eventful spectacle for the dozens of spectators who came along.

The Annual Gardner Powell Gig Race has been run since the mid-fifties. The race is named after Stanley Gardner Powell, a Jeweller Manufacturer from Birmingham who relocated to Newquay and has a great interest and support for the Rowing Club.

Crews in Newquay Gigs Active, Newquay, Dove, Good Intent and Fly took across the still Newquay Bay, followed by the obligatory array of fishing and pleasure boats with spectators.

The race started off evenly matched, until Active and the Fly pulled away from the pack to fight for first and second place. At the halfway buoy there was even a little commotion as the gigs oars touched as Active tried to take the inside line.

By final straight, the Fly team had managed to forge a convincing lead over her competitors and rolled over the finish line approximately 3 lengths ahead of Active. They were then followed by Newquay, Dove and then Good Intent.

The winning crew consisted of Richard Boyden, David Ball, Rob Wigley, Chris Tilyard, Tommy Gee, Chris Martin and Cox Paul Taylor. The trophy and medals were presented by former leading rower, and present Newquay Pilot Gigs Trustee Chas Mills.