Indoor success for Stirling rowers

Scottish indoor and outdoor titles have come the way of Stirling Rowing Club.

Three pupils contested the Scottish Rowing Schools Indoor Championships in Motherwell and then were joined by club mates at the Scottish Rowing National Indoor Championships, 24 hours later - also in Motherwell.

Joshie Matthews, rowing for Dollar Academy, put in two dominant performances at both events. Racing in the boys S4 event on the Friday, he produced a mature row over the five minute race to come through from seventh at one point to win his race by eight metres in a large field of 32 entrants.

Club mate Ruairidh Reid, racing for Stirling High School, also competed in this event and just missed out on a medal, finishing fourth.

The other club member competing in the Friday schools event was Rachael Graveling (Lornshill Academy), who finished a highly creditable sixth in the girls S4 event.

On the Saturday, Joshie continued his great form, winning the boys Junior 16 event over the standard 2km distance. He excelled during his race and produced a personal best performance in 6.46 minutes.

Ruairidh Reid secured silver in this event, 10 seconds behind Joshie with Robbie Waddell clinching a clean sweep for Stirling with the bronze medal.

Senior member and coach at Stirling Rowing Club Gregor Hall won a senior men’s lightweight 500m sprint title at the Saturday event and the Saturday mixed club team were second behind a strong Dundee University squad.

The Girls Junior 16 mixed team were just pipped to gold by Clydesdale Rowing Club and came away with silver. Other notable performances from Saturday’s event were from Hannah Lawrie finishing fifth in the girls Junior 18 category and Rachael Graveling finishing fourth in the girls Junior 16 event.