ROWERS ON A ROLL ON LOCH
Strathclyde Park Rowing Club enjoy medal success
Strathclyde Park Rowing Club enjoyed medal success at the Scottish Rowing Championships earlier this month.
The championships took place at Strathclyde Park on June 8, 9 and 10, with crews from across Scotland competing for Scottish titles over the three days.
On the Satu rday , Strathclyde Park’s women brought home some bling, with Per r i McClusky from the British Rowing World Class Start ( WCS) programme joining Sophie Parsons of Edinburgh University to take the title in women’s open doubles, just ahead of club- mates India Isles (also WCS) and Gillian Connal.
Gillian also joined up with Ailie Ord to retain their women’s Masters double title.
Unfortunately that was the last of the medals for the day as thunder and lightning drew in and racing was cancelled.
Sunday brought clear skies and sunshine, and the fight for the women’s singles and men’s pairs titles.
SPRC had a number of athletes competing in these events, and the finals were tight.
In the pairs, Andrew Dunse and his Heriot Watt University partner, John Heuchan, finished second in the lightweight category, and Michael Troy and his George Watsons partner Ru Potter were third in J18.
Michael May and his St Andrew’s BC, but Hamilton born and bred, and Ailie’s son, Graham Ord, were the top club pair, winning silver overall.
In the women’s event, Perri McClusky and India Isles fought off a strong field to win ‘A’ final spots and finish fourth and sixth, respectively.
Elspeth Grant raced into the ‘B’ final, winning herself the schoolgirls’ gold medal and second overall in J18 1x.
Later on, Elspeth joined club- mate Colette Smith, Catriona Bryce ( George Heriots) and Laura McKenzie (Loch Lomond) to win women’s open quads – a good sign for when they head to Women’s Henley in a week’s time.
The women’s Masters crews held off strong competition from other clubs to bring home titles in WMas BC 4x (Laura Graham, Liz Davidson, Ailie Ord and Gillian Connal), WMas D-F 4x (Liz McGovern, Rachel Tenant, Mary O’Toole and Eva Rankin, the latter of Loch Lomond), WMas BC 2- ( Gillian Connal, Ailie Ord) and WMas 4+ (Gillian Connal, Ailie Ord, Trini Duke and Martha Walsh, both St Andrew’s BC) and coxed by Rosie Payne.
Hamilton lad Mike Simpson, who is also a WCS athlete, fought through three rounds of men’s novice single and brought home silver.
In the OJ14 and Schoolboys’ J14 2x , Hamilton Gramma r students AJ Payne and Scott Troy brought home the gold, another fantastic and strong showing by the club.
If you would like to t r y rowing, cont a c t the club at secretary@ strathclydeparkrc.co.uk for more information – ages 12+ welcome!
The European Championships will be held at Strathclyde Park on August 2-5, where spectators can see the British Rowing team in action.