FALMOUTH Pilot Gig Club will look to defend their crown at the World Pilot Gig Championships next weekend.

Falmouth’s men’s team go into this year’s event, which takes place on the Isles of Scilly from May 4-6, as seven-time reigning champions, having won the event every year since 2011.

But with numerous changes to his side through retirements and work commitments, men’s captain Jamie Maxted is keen to alleviate any feeling that his team will simply stroll to success once again.

He said: “It’s probably the first year in quite a while that we’re not the favourites, and I think everyone’s got their money on Looe this year. 

“But we’ve been training hard and we’ve still got a title to defend and we’re not going to roll over and let someone else take it easily.”

Aside from Looe, stiff opposition is expected in the form of Caradon, who ran Falmouth close at the recent championships in Newquay.

“They’ll definitely be looking to take the title back and get that gold medal. They haven’t won it for about ten years now and they were pretty dominant before then so they’ll be looking to get on that podium.”

Falmouth have entered ten crews in all - four men’s, three women’s, two men’s supervets and one women’s supervets - with over 60 rowers and coxes set to represent the club next weekend.

The women’s sides harbour ambitions of their own to make it onto the podium, and with some previous champions returning to the club, the ladies are also looking strong.

“We have some that have come back to the club and giving it another go this year so they’ll be definitely be challenging for that top spot too. 

“It’s going to be a very close race this year. I don’t think anyone is going to win it by lengths, its probably going to be feet and inches."