THE third Two Castles race took place with 18 gigs racing in a mass start from Zone Point to a finish line off the NMMC in Falmouth.

Sadly Caradon Men did not return to defend the Cup they won last year but the Falmouth and Roseland teams put on a thrilling display.

The Falmouth boys in Idas just had the edge over the Roseland lads in the William Peters. Idas took the lead after about 400 yards and were never headed, resisting a strong Roseland challenge.

In the veteran event the Falmouth crew rowing Energy prevailed and there were wins for Hayle in Isis for the first mixed crew and Roseland in Killigerran for the first ladies' crew.

All crews were invited ashore to the marquee in Events Square where food and drink were provided by the event sponsors the Wooden Hand Brewery and A & P Falmouth Ltd.

An all-star mens crew including Rolf Munding (CEO Wooden Hand Brewery), Peter Childs (CEO A & P Falmouth) and Heink Wiekins (CEO Pendennis Shipyard) failed to mount a serious threat to race winners Falmouth but have vowed to embark on serious winter training down at the Chainlocker.

Roger Hawk, director of Newells Travel, generously donated a cruise holiday on the Van Gogh as a prize, which was won by Nikki from the Devoran Gig Club.

Peter Mason and his team at the NMMC and the Roseland Gig Club were thanked for their help in organising the event and the RNLI for the use of their slip in the launch and recovery of the gigs.