Gig Racing

Sutton came back into the world of Gig Racing 18 months ago when John Cork recommended our oars to Rame Gig Club in Cornwall. We had the pleasure of supplying them with a set of men's blades, which were well received by Rame.

The Britannia Naval College ordered two sets that year to go with their new boats and Peter Martin our mastercraftman attended the launch of their new Pilot Gig boats in September 2002, were he met Kevin Pyne of Dartmouth Gig Club. They discussed the possibly of Suttons making 30 Admiralty Oars for the Dartmouth Royal Regatta, which we were delighted to provide.

Since then we have continued to work closely with gig clubs around the UK and through our research and liaisons with the clubs we are now in a position to offer both the Juniors and Ladies teams of rowers their own specified oars. This has proved to be a beneficial move for the sport and enables the teams to utilise/exploit their strength into a positive rowing action.

J Sutton is delighted to be part of this exciting traditional growth sport, which is awe inspiring to watch as well as take part in. We are always continually looking at ways to improve our knowledge and by working with the clubs we aim to provide the best there is.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank John Cork for the reintroduction into this wonderful world of traditional gig rowing.

"I was given a brief by the port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta committee of which I am a member to investigate a replacement oar for the standard admiralty patent heavy boat whaler type oar, which has changed little in the past hundred years.
I knew Peter Martin Of Suttons by reputation and met him in person when he came down to the Dart to watch the royal navel college who had just received a set of Suttons pilot gig oars to participate in The Annual Lay Up Race held in memory of my late wife.

I was very impressed by the standard of workmanship in these oars. Pilot gig rowing has long been a favourite sport of mine and I invited Peter to meet up with me at my store the following day to discuss the way the heavy boat oar could be adapted to better suit to our specific needs and importantly strengthened at the base of the loom which up until now had been a weakness.
My recommendation to our regatta Committee that we make an initial purchase of thirty blades was accepted. So I made an appealed to past rowers and the townsfolk in general to help me finance the oars and offered to have the oars sign written with the sponsors names should they chose to purchase one. In a little over a week I am happy to say all the oars where paid for.
The Sutton oars came in on time, on price and of a very high quality. They were used for the first time successfully at this year's Royal regatta and with no breakage's".

Kevin Pyne

Some of the gig racing photographs have been kindly supplied by Kevin Pyne

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