ON WEDNESDAY, July 10, four crews of female rowers competed in the longest women's race in Newquay Rowing Club’s racing calendar, vying for the prestigious ‘The Headland Cup.’

This challenging race, exclusively for the top female rowers, offers the chance to win the coveted trophy, provided by The Headland Hotel.

Four crews took part in the race with the Vigila crew of Megan Sutherland, Jo Murphy, Keira Ridel, Evey Evison, Ellie Truscott, Chloe Taylor and cox Toby Row coming out on top.

The other teams who competed were the Dall Lewyer crew, the Spy crew and the Hope crew.

The race starts at the southern end of Fistral Beach, with crews rowing across the back of Fistral, passing The Headland, around Towan Head and 'The Cribbar,' and in towards Dane Rock and the 'Huer's Hut,' finishing at Newquay Harbour.

The Armstrong family presented the trophy to the victorious Vigila crew, along with prizes. The celebration continued at the rowing club, featuring a BBQ supplied and prepared by The Headland Hotel staff.

The Headland has been at the forefront of women's gig racing in Newquay for more than a decade.

Carolyn Armstrong, who along with her husband John bought the iconic Victorian hotel in 1979, is a passionate supporter of female rowing, and her enthusiastic backing has significantly impacted the local community and the sport itself.

Just over a decade ago, Carolyn Armstrong began participating in novice rowing sessions at the harbour, drawn by her love of boats.

“There was good training and camaraderie amongst the rowers; experienced ones joined the mixed novices, and we went out in all conditions.

“It was important to trust the cox, and when big swells came through, the instruction to 'keep rowing’ just had to be followed so the gig could be controlled,” she recalled.

Carolyn noticed that while men had a trophy for their races, women did not.

“We had been given a stunning silver cup years ago, the Cocker Spaniel trophy, awarded by The Headland Hotel to the winning dog at the Newquay Agricultural Show in the last century.

“Rather than sitting in a safe, it needed to be on show, and what better place than the Newquay Rowing Club – to be awarded to the winning team in the Ladies Race,” she added.

Cornish pilot gig rowing is a sport the Cornish take immense pride in. It has become mainstream, with clubs based in fishing harbours and villages across the South West and beyond.

“It's an excellent way to get fit, make friends, and be part of a team. The competitive element brings communities together positively,” Carolyn stated.

Carolyn fondly recalls assisting during the County Championships, where the women’s teams' efficiency and organisation stood out.

She would distribute bin bags to teams at the start of the day to combat littering on the beach, ensuring a cleaner environment by the day's end.

Though Carolyn no longer rows, she continues to sail along the south coast, often hearing the distinctive sound of oars before seeing the gigs.

The Armstrong family and The Headland remain committed to supporting women’s gig racing, celebrating the sport's positive impact on the community.

Established in 1921, NRC is the oldest club on the gig rowing circuit. Based at Newquay Harbour, the club has over 600 members of all ages with men’s, women’s, and junior sections.