Newquay’s Mens County Gig Championships are hugely competitve and signal the end of Cornwall’s Gig rowing season. Every Cornish coastal community and some inland, with a gig and crew, descend on Newquay Harbour to battle it out for the honour of being crowned Cornwall County Men or Ladies Gig Champions.

These are Newquay’s homegrown Championships, held every year since Eddie Arthur, one of Newquay’s coxswains, first came up with the idea in 1969. Steeped in good fellowship and fun, the first championships took place with the old gigs, Newquay, Dove and Treffry.

Up until 1985 only Newquay gigs were used in the championships, but with the increasing number of clubs entering the event, outside gigs were brought in. Now gigs taking part in the championships are chosen from around the county, kindly loaned by their respective clubs, and are a sight to behold as they take to the sea from Newquay Harbour.

The County Gig Championships are an off shore spectacle and free to come and watch.