A rowing club based at a reservoir in Derbyshire is preparing to compete in the world championships for traditional Cornish pilot gig boats.
The Midland Cornish rowing club trains at the Staunton Harold reservoir, located only 10 miles from the point in Great Britain furthest from the sea, according to the BBC.
The team will travel to the Isles of Scilly for the event, which runs from April 30 to May 2 and attracts approximately 2,000 participants.
The club utilizes six-oared fixed-seat vessels measuring 32 feet that are based on designs from the late 18th century.
Rower Katie Baines noted that competitors from coastal regions are often surprised by the team’s inland origins, stating, “They’re always quite shocked,” as reported by Yahoo Sports.
The club was founded by Chris Baker, who moved to Derbyshire from Cornwall 35 years ago.
Baker explained that the team focuses on technique to remain competitive against coastal clubs with significantly longer histories.
He stated, “We try and coach the right way, so even if we’re not at the front, we at least look tidy and that’s half the battle,” according to the source.
The squad is coached by Martin Pezzack, a former multiple world champion in traditional Cornish rowing disciplines.
Pezzack expressed that coaching athletes who rarely see the ocean has provided a new perspective on the sport.
He remarked, “It’s more of a sense of achievement this time because it’s not just me – you’re doing it with a bunch of people,” as noted by the outlet.
While the Cornish Pilot Gig Association reports over 90 clubs nationwide, Midland Cornish remains the only organization that trains on a reservoir more than 60 miles from the nearest open water, per the Cornish Pilot Gig Association.
The club currently maintains about 30 regular rowers.