Visit to Cilgerran - Coracle Races
23 August 2003

Cilgerran is a village on the top of a wooded gorge through which the tidal section of the River Teifi runs. Today coracle fishermen from that village still practice their ancient fishing skills catching the salmon and sea-trout (Sewin) moving upstream from the sea, not many miles away.

The Annual Coracle Races are held on a Saturday in August every year on the river under the shadow of the ruins of the old Cilgerran castle perched above and overlooking the river. The clear sky and hot sunshine was enjoyed by all at the river, unlike the heavy rain of the previous year. Different classes of races were held including single handed and ladies only, also coracle handling and a special race for visiting coracles not of the river Teifi type. The members of the Coracle Society who attended the event were as ever, made very welcome and some members have already planned to attend next year.

The River Teifi coracle is probably the most 'rustic' of coracle designs but requiring the most skill to make and surprisingly remains unchanged unlike other designs that use/used machine cut wood and metal fastenings. An unusual sight on the river was an aluminium framed one that is used for netting, pictured above and below.