Clydesdale Amateur Rowing Club

The Scullers Head ran today in good conditions.  In the end, 58 single scullers completed the course, with 31 doubles following in the 2nd division.  Results on the event page here.

Congratulations to Kieran Brown of Edinburgh University Boat Club for winning the 2013 Scullers Head, in a fine time of 14.38.  Kieran was closely followed by Gavin Horsburgh of Glasgow Schools, just 3 seconds behind.  Ross Marchbank retained the Tankard Trophy for winning Res2 Singles.

Emma McDonald of Glasgow University had a commanding victory in the Woman’s event with a time of 15.56 to win the Life Members Cup, with Gillian Connal of Strathclyde Park and Liz Creighton of Edinburgh University 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Ross Marchbank with the Tankard Trophy (M Res2), Kieran Brown with the Peter Grieve Quaich (Head of River) and Emma McDonald with the Life Members Cup (Fastest Woman).

To the Doubles Event, where Gavin Horsburgh and Josh Armstrong of Glasgow Academy won with a 20 second margin over the Clydesdale J18 double of Euan Malone and Giacomo Galano, with SUBC 3rd.

Emma McDonald was joined by Rebecca Lightfoot in the Fastest Women’s Double with a time of 15:12 – about 6 seconds ahead of the Strathclyde Park double of Natalie Irvine and Gillian Connal in 2nd.

Huge thanks to all those assisted: including the Scottish Rowing Umpires, the Clydesdale Marshalls and timing teams, the Glasgow Humane Society for safety boat cover and also Glasgow Rowing Club for their safety boats, launch and driver.  Thanks to Clyde Gateway and Stampfli for programme sponsorship.

Particular thanks to the tea bar team, led by Nadia Sterlini and Mary Snape, for keeping us warm and well fed all day.  Lastly, many thanks to event organiser Michele Foran who pulled it all together.

We are fortunate to have so many great people in our club and we are delighted that two of our members have been recognised with Sports Council for Glasgow Awards.

Amy Walton and Gordon Simpson

Amy Walton was nominated for the Volunteer of the Year Award:

“Amy leads by example and is always willing to provide support to the less-experienced members needing help carrying boats out to the river and setting off from the steps safely. Her position as Flag Captain and her in-depth knowledge of the club mean that she is constantly in demand from the club members for help and information. However she is able to maintain a friendly and welcoming outlook throughout, despite frequently stressful situations.  Amy maintains her sense of humour at stressful times.  She also inspires other to also go that extra mile – a great motivator.”

Amy was highly commended in the Volunteer of the Year Award.

Gordon with Hilary Atkinson, daughter of Colin Atkinson

Gordon Simpson was nominated for the Service to Sport Award:

“Rowers around the world will know Gordon for his tireless work supporting visiting nations to the 1986 Commonwealth Games, through to the 2007 World Under 23 Championships.  International teams recognise Gordon practically as host of Scottish Rowing as he arranged boats, logistics and on-site repairs for visiting teams. Rowers in Scotland will know of Gordon has the man who introduced Katherine Grainger to our sport, before her rowing career took off in Edinburgh.  His ‘can-do’ attitude remains as strong as ever whilst his renowned delegation skills become ever more effective.  Everyone has been “Gordoned” into assisting in some task such is the subtle persuasion of Gordon, he explains the value of the job in hand and has you volunteering before he has to ask. Gordon’s motivation is his love of the sport and the people in it.  That he has contributed everything over such a long time is testament to his dedication to our sport.”

Gordon was also nominated by Glasgow Schools Rowing Club:

“It is difficult to do justice to the contribution of this remarkable man.  It has been massive, sustained and given with no motive other than his deep love of his sport. We estimate he spends 30-40 hours/week working between our club and Clydesdale.  No other person has come close to his influence and contribution and we doubt whether any other club in Scotland could present his equal.  It is no exaggeration to state that without Gordon Simpson, there would be no Glasgow Schools Rowing Club as we know it.”

Gordon was presented as overall Winner of the Colin Atkinson Award for Service to Sport.

The Scullers Head Draw and Information for Competitors is now available on the Scullers Head page.

Please note the revised start times, bringing both divisions forward 1 hour to avoid visiting crews boat loading in the dark, with the singles at 11 am and the doubles at 1.30pm.

It is anticipated that conditions will allow the race to proceed. Competitors are advised to wrap up warm!

We were joined on Sunday by Olympic Champion Katherine Grainger and GB Sculler Imogen Walsh to help launch our new Junior Development Programme. The programme seeks to capitalise on the surge of interest in rowing following Katherine’s performance at the 2012 Olympics.

Katherine took her first rowing strokes on the Clyde and it was fitting that she made a touching presentation to Gordon Simpson, who first got her in a boat, on the occasion of his retirement from the role of Clubmaster – a role he first started in 1961.

Katherine Grainger and Gordon Simpson

The formal proceedings of the day included the launch of our Direct Club Investment from sportscotland, which will fund junior development coaching at the club during periods which the existing volunteers cant support.  The funding of £33,739 over four years will enable the club to expand its activity and increase its capacity over the long term.

Katherine and some of the Clydesdale Juniors

The Sports Council for Glasgow, in conjunction with sportscotland, made the award of “Development Coach of the Year” to Maureen Malone, in recognition of her contribution to raising the standard of participation and competition in our sport over several years.  The Sports Council for Glasgow also awarded Clydesdale the “Club of the Month” Award.

Katie Oman (sportscotland), Imogen Walsh, Maureen Malone, Katherine Grainger and Moira Ord (Sports Council for Glasgow)

Archie Graham, Executive Member for Glasgow 2014, was present and pleased to see that the club was proudly displaying the 2014 Legacy branding in recognition of its contribution to the legacy of next year’s Commonwealth Games.

Proceedings moved downstairs where Mike and Stephen Abram of Henry Abram and Sons were joined by Katherine and Imogen to launch two new doubles, Glen Fyne and Glen Lochay.  The sponsorship of Henry Abram and Sons was matched by sportscotland through their sportsmatch programme and Mike Abram said:  ”Henry Abram and Sons Ltd are delighted to sponsor the new boats and are pleased to continue their support and share in the future success of the club and its members. The sportsmatch programme, which is run by sportscotland, makes sponsorship a particularly attractive investment for us – to have Katherine Grainger and Imogen Walsh on hand to assist with the launch of boats named by us is an honour and we are delighted to work with sportscotland to support the development of Clydesdale.”

Mike Abram and Stephen Abram

Katherine Grainger and Imogen Walsh name the “Glen Fyne” and “Glen Lochay”

Louise Martin CBE, Chair of sportscotland, said: “We are delighted that an ambitious club like Clydesdale Amateur Rowing Club is one of the first recipients to benefit from our Direct Club Investment programme, as well as receiving £4,992 through sportsmatch.  sportscotland is making significant progress in implementing a world-class sporting system at all levels, and this investment demonstrates our commitment to the growth of clubs throughout the country.  As excitement about next year’s Glasgow Games continues to grow, we are committed to supporting clubs to meet the increasing demand on capacity and help deliver a lasting sporting legacy for clubs.”

The Clydesdale members, friends and guests.

Thanks to Photographer David Nolan.  All images can be found here.

Thanks to Diana Worthy and Michael Lekakis for co-ordinating the refreshments and boathouse preparations.

Clydesdale is mentioned on the BBC News page today, as sportscotland officially launch their new Direct Club Investment programme.  We will be launching our project this Sunday from 12 noon at the West Boathouse, with Olympic Champion Katherine Grainger, GB Sculler Imogen Walsh and the Executive Member for Glasgow 2014 Archie Graham all present along with guests from sportscotland, Glasgow Life and Sports Council for Glasgow.  All welcome.

Our new committee was elected at the AGM.  Welcome to new committee members Amy Wood, Julie Dunlop, Chris Walton and Sophie Warburton.  Michael Foran proudly steps up to the role of Vice President and Ceri Sellers has taken on the role of Treasurer.  Michael Lekakis has big shoes to fill, following Gordon Simpson as Clubmaster.  Full details on the committee page.

Congratulations to all Clydesdale members past and present who competed at the British Championships last weekend.  Notable performances include:

Jack Burns winning the C Final of O 2x on Saturday in a composite with Aberdeen University and finishing 4th in the B Final of O 4x in a composite crew with athletes from Aberdeen on Sunday.

Claire McKeown and Hannah Stone winning the B Final of W4x, in a composite crew with Robert Gordon University on Sunday.

In what was a very competitive event where the standard of racing was the highest it has been in many years, these are some fantastic results – particularly for those less experienced crews who raced hard to make it to the C and D finals.

Elsewhere, former member Chris Rae won silver overall in O 8+, Samantha Fowler and Karen Bennett won bronze overall in the W4- , all three with Molesey BC.  Kieran Brown was 2nd in U23 Lwt 2x with EUBC.

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Jimmy Speirs on Tuesday 8th October 2013.

Jimmy was a Life member of Clydesdale since 1955 and as one of the 3 (Clydesdale) Jimmys (along with McGhie and Ross) he was much involved in competing and running the Club.

James rowed in the successful crew of 1946/1947 winning a fine collection of trophies including the Scottish Championship Fours Shield with Alex McIlwraith (bow) John Inglis (mid bow) and James Ross (stroke), Ben Parsonage (cox). James rowed mid stroke seat with D. McCulloch, 3, replacing John Inglis in the above crew and won the shell fours division in the first Clyde Head of the River Race.

He served on committee from 1948 – 1949, 1951 – 1954 and 1963. He was joint Clubmaster in 1950 and Flag Captain from 1955 – 1961 (with James Ross as Captain).

His skills around the clubhouse were appreciated particularly when the “spring” on the disco dance floor of the clubroom indicated that the base of the main support had rotted. Jimmy, and colleagues, did a great job in installing a new upright which remains solid to this day.

The three Jimmys + one (John Shepherd) were also responsible for many other great joys we enjoy today, such as the Kitchen area, which was created by reducing the mens changing room by 50%, and which was orginally planned to be a bar! Coupled with that they also put in place a vastly improved men’s toilet and shower, with a hot water system and boiler, and a great many other improvements around the Club. At that time we were still an all male club, before the great day arrived and women graced our presence. Jimmy Speirs was always a key player and in the vanguard all of the major club projects.

As well as a continuing interest in Clydesdale events until ill health prevented him attending, Jimmy served rowing for many years as an umpire at Scottish regattas.

Our neighbours at Clyde ARC held their ’3 Heads’ event today, over 3km in good conditions. Congratulations to the following Clydesdale winners:
J16 1x Giacomo Galano
J15 1x Ryan Morrison
WJ18 1x Leona Logan
M4+ Stephen Walker, Chris Walton, Andrew McConnell, Mark O’Hare and Amy Wood
J18 2x Euan Malone and Giacomo Galano
M2x David Ferguson and Lorne Campbell
M4x Jan Meinicke, Ryan Morrison, Euan Malone and Giacomo Galano

Congratulations to Euan Malone and Giacomo Galano on winning the Scottish Rowing Crew of the Year Award on Saturday. Their award was presented by GB Rowing Mens Lwt Coach, Darren Whiter and recognises the tremendous season the boys have had, under the expert coaching of Chris Phillips.

Giacomo Galano and Euan Malone
Scottish Rowing Crew of the Year

Congratulations also to Willie Turner, who was awarded the Scottish Rowing Volunteer of the Year Award. Most junior members at the club have been coached or helped by Willie over the last few years and this award recognises the sound foundation which Willie offers beginner juniors in our sport as well as recognising his dedication, generosity and patient encouragement in doing so.

Willie Turner
Scottish Rowing Volunteer of the Year

Clydesdale are immensely proud to have such people within our membership and are pleased that their contributions to the sport have been recognised nationally.