Sticking their oars in
Nearly 400 races held over two days at Strathclyde Park
Scottish Rowing hosted its largest-ever event last weekend, with 396 races held over two days during the Strathclyde Park Regatta, which included the Scottish Open and Universities’ Championships.
‘Home’ team Strathclyde Park Rowing Club impressed, with multiple qualifying winds and top-three places in finals from both junior and senior members.
Saturday’s successes included women’s MASCE 4x first for Mas (C) crew (in composite with Loch Lomond ARC), Ailie Ord, Eva Rankin, Gillian Connal and Liz Williamson, and second for SPRC Mas (E) crew Liz Davidson, Liz Mcgovern, Mary O’toole and Rachel Tennant.
There were Open Masters A-C 2x first and third places for club crews A – Pete Venables and Jonathan Morrissey, and B, Alan Frances and Juan Anza, respectively.
Scott Troy rowed an impressive 1000m to win the Open Ju13 single title, while crew-mate Raymond Ron finished third in the Open Ju14 single race.
These youngsters then joined their Open Ju15 4x+ team-mates Andrew Tweedie, AJ Payne and cox Rosie Payne to win, putting two strong Aberdeen schools crews into second and third place.
Sunday opened with a hardearned win for Elspeth Grant and Abby Lawson, taking the women’s Ju18 2x titles from second-placed Belfast RC by a boat length.
The club’s WJU18 4x had to settle for second place, after failing to keep pace with their Glasgow Academy counterparts, but beat Castle Semple into third.
Scott Troy and AJ Payne romped home to comfortably beat Aberdeen Schools into second place and win the Open Ju14 2x.
Daniel Mcquaid also placed, taking third place in the Open Nov 1x, and with Scott Hamilton they earned bronze in the Nov 2x.
The Openju14 4x+ with Raymond Ron, AJ Payne, Scott Troy, Olivia Mcgrory and cox Emma Ferguson also achieved third place.
SPRC women’s novice 4x+ of Grace Osborne, Beth Lennon, Missy Mclaren, Orla Mccall and Carla Lennon were bested by Nithsdale RC, but won silver ahead of Castle Semple.
The women’s Masters BD 4+ gave seniors another chance to shine as St Andrew BC/SPRC composite of Liz Williamson, Trini Duke, Ailie Ord and Gillian Connal beat visitors Belfast and Durham to first place.
In the women’s MASCD8+A, a composite from SPRC and Aberdeen of Hazel Gaddis, Paula Hubins, Mary O’toole, Dot Gaddis, Laura Graham, Liz Mcgovern, Liz Davidson and Carol Wallace finished second, beating Tyne United Masters D into third place.
Ailie Ord and Gillian Connal took the women’s MASBC 2x gold, leaving Durham ARC in second and Tyne United in third.
Durham pulled a first place back in the women’s MASDE final, but SPRC E and B crews battled it out between themselves for runner-up.
Eventually, the B Mas(e) of Mary O’toole and Rachel Tennant took second and SPRC A Mas B of Liz Mcgovern and Dot Gaddis were third.
Notable mentions also go to Missy Mclaren in women’s novice and Andrew Tweedie in open Ju15 for qualifying for their finals in single sculling categories.
The regatta season is well underway, and Strathclyde Park will see two other major events this year, with Scottish Championships in June and the Home International Regatta in July.
A SPRC spokesperson said: “Everyone at SPRC enjoys the atmosphere of a regatta, so we are looking forward to the rowing meets over the summer months.
“Some of our juniors are preparing for National Schools’ Championships at Eton Dorney in May, and British Juniors at Nottingham in July.
“We hope they see the benefits of their commitment over the winter months and achieve their personal goals.”
The club welcomes new members and hold regular ‘learn to row’ access courses for adults and children aged 12 and over. For more visit www. strathclydeparkrc.co.uk.