independent Cornish news and comment

INTERCELTIC WATERSPORTS FESTIVAL

On Sunday 22nd July a team of Cornish watersports enthusiasts arrived back in Plymouth after a successful week competing in this year’s Interceltic Wayersports Festival.


The festival was held in the village of Carentec on the Bay of Morlaix in Brittany and involved competitors from Cornwall, Wales, Ireland, Asturias, N Portugal, Isle of Man, Brittany and Galicia. There was a wide range of competitions involving surfing, kayaking, sailing and gig rowing.

The Cornish team consisted mostly of juniors as participation was organised by the Penwith Sports Partnership, based at Mounts Bay School. The Penwith Sports Partnership (PSP) aims to raise participation and standards in sport for all the schools in Penwith. Clubs that were represented were: Mounts Bay Gig Club, Zennor Gig Club, Falmouth Greenbank Rowing Club, Mounts Bay Sailing Club, Penzance Sailing Club, Penzance Canoe Club, Fowey Canoe Club. Surfers came from the various secondary schools in Penwith.

Each member of the team paid to take part but as the total cost of the trip was in the region of £16,000, sponsorship funding covered the majority of that price.

The P.S.P. would like to thank the following organisations for their donations:
Penzance Canoe Club received £4285 from Awards for All Lottery Grant.
Mounts Bay Gig Club received £6000 from the Local Network Fund.
Penzance Town Council Donated £100.
Mounts Bay sailing Club donated £250 and also received an Awards for All grant for £3000.
Alfred Smiths donated £250.
SSL International donated £300.
Penwith District Council donated £1000.

The Results!!

The main result was that after all the scores for all events were added together, the Cornish team came third overall. First mention should go to the surfers who came first in both the shortboard and longboard competitions and the kayak polo team who also came first. Second place was achieved by the sea kayakers and the 6+1 gig rowers. The K1 & K2 marathon and sprint kayakers came third as did the 4+1 rowers and the solo rowers. In rough conditions the laser sailors came fourth overall.

All accompanying staff sang the praises of all the junior competitors who really got into the spirit of the competition and put a huge amount of effort in. The P.S.P. would like to thank all the parents and staff who went along as volunteers to help with the organisation and logistics.

For more information, results and photos please see www.jeux-nautiques.com