Fond farewell to gig racing revivalist

THE man who plucked the ancient sport of pilot gig racing out of the pages of history books and brought it to life as a thriving modern sport has died, writes the WMN's Lyn Barton.

On Monday night, Ralph Bird lost a long battle with cancer and the effects of a recent stroke. The 67-year-old was known to thousands all over the world as the father of Cornish pilot gig racing.

He was smitten with the grace and elegance of centuries-old pilot gigs as a teenager and, using his skills as a boatbuilder, subsequently created many of the boats being raced today.

Not content with just using his hands, Mr Bird also helped set down the rules of the sport, guided the creation of its governing body and became its president.

Norma Edwards, vice-chairman of the Cornish Pilot Gig Association, said the sport owed Mr Bird a huge debt of gratitude.

"Ralph was passionate about gig racing," said Mrs Edwards.

"He was full of the old traditions. He did everything and without him, it wouldn't be the sport it is.

"Ralph made a contribution to the sport and the culture which you just couldn't measure."

Pilot gigs were the workhorses of Victorian harbours, used for ferrying people and goods by sea and guiding massive boats into port.

As engines supplanted oar power, the lithe wooden boats had threatened to become a footnote of history with only a handful examples preserved.

But inspired to see them grace the seas once more, Mr Bird borrowed Newquay Rowing Club's three gigs to stage the Three Rivers Race in Truro 1981.

Within five years of that first race, there were four clubs, as Newquay was joined by Mounts Bay, Cadgwith and Truro.

Then, at his Devoran cottage in December, 1986, in the presence of the four clubs, it was decided that all gigs should be modelled on a standard boat.

That intimate meeting laid the foundations for the sport and in 1988, its official organisation was founded in Truro: the Cornish Pilot Gig Association was born.

Chris Hitchins, who as a member of Roseland Gig Club was one of the first to join up, paid tribute to Mr Bird's drive and determination.

"He had an overwhelming enthusiasm to rejuvenate the sport," said Mr Hitchins, who went on to become a secretary of the CPGA.

"I think he would be pleased to be remembered as bringing to life the history of gig rowing and driving what became a wonderful sport that encompasses people from all different communities, men, women and children."

There are now more than 7,000 people involved in gig racing from as far afield as the USA and Holland.

At the last count, there were 52 clubs, with four more currently lining up to join.

There are more than 120 registered gigs, 29 of which were built by Mr Bird. The last one to be carefully crafted was named after him.

"None of that would have been possible without Ralph," said Mrs Edwards.