Falmouth wins men's gig racing at Newquay

The Falmouth crew finished 36 seconds ahead of second-across-the-line Looe

Falmouth’s gig rowers triumphed in the annual Men’s Newquay County Championship.

The crew pulled away from the start and stayed ahead throughout the gruelling four-mile (6.4km) race off Newquay harbour.

They finished 36 seconds ahead of second-across-the-line Looe who were last year's winners.

Falmouth rower Jordan Smith said the crew's strategy was "just hammer it up the first leg and try to hold on to it".

The event has been hosted by Newquay Rowing Club for more than 50 years.

About 500 rowers in gigs attended from as far away as the Isles of Scilly, Bristol and Dorset.

Gigs are 32ft (9.7m) long traditionally-built open wooden boats rowed by six crew members and steered by a coxswain.

There are an estimated 8,000 rowers in 90 clubs spread across the UK, with more in Europe and America.