Ord rows to gold at Home International But Graham wanted three title victories
Hamilton’s Graham Ord was part of a men’s coxless four crew that took gold at the 2017 Home International Regatta at Strathclyde Park.
However, Ord was left frustrated with two other second-placed finishes in the pairs and eight, in torrential rain.
The team of Ord, Calum Irvine (men’s captain), James Robson and Matthew Christie got a couple of lengths after 500m and dominated the race from there to take the win, but Scotland’s men finished third after being pipped on the line by Wales in the final race of the day, the eight.
The two junior teams place too.
Following the coxless four win, Robson from Newcastle University said: “We managed to get out of the blocks quickly and lead the field through the 500, then conserved energy to make sure we had enough in the tank for the eight.
“It was a really good race in the eight, close between us and Wales, but it was nice to have a good run down the course in a big boat with guys who were experiencing the Home International Regatta for the first time.”
Ord, who won a gold in the four and recorded second place finishes in the pair and eight said: “It has been a pretty wet and miserable day, but I’m pleased to come away took third with the win in the four and get two strong performances in the pair and eight.
“I was hoping to come away with three wins, but overall it has still been a pretty good day.”
Scotland’s women were awarded the inaugural Dame Katherine Grainger Quaich after successfully defending the Home International title they won in Cardiff a year ago.
It all came down to the last two races and a thrilling finale, where they won the title by a single point, and captain Laura Mcdonald of Edinburgh University was relieved.
She said: “It was fantastic to win after a slow start and a scary end, but it was really good to see that win come home.”
Laura Mcdonald partnered Katy Mcdonald to win the lightweight women’s double scull, while Lauren Gray and India Somerside dominated to win the women’s pair.
Laura Mcdonald finished second in the women’s quad to Ireland, alongside Alex Rankin, Lydia Currie and Mairi Buchanan in the penultimate women’s race.
With only the eight to go, little did Scotland know their second place in the quad meant they had already won the women’s team title.
Mcdonald added:”being captain made the whole experience of winning the trophy that bit more special.”