PHOTO GALLERY

After a colossal effort from a small team, lead by Gordon Simpson and Ross Malone, three trailer loads of boats were loaded ready for transport to Inverness on Friday evening.

Scottish Rowing Early Identification Long-Distance Trial

Racing began at 9.30am on Saturday with the Scottish Rowing Early Identification Long-Distance Trial.  Clydesdale was well represented with 15 athletes making their way through the thick mist to get to the 4.5km start line.  As the athletes we under starters orders, the mist cleared and Clydesdale’s athletes achieved some excellent results including three wins.  Andrew McConnell won men’s heavyweight singles with Ross Irvine coming second; the Barton brothers, Andrew and Joseph won the men’s lightweight pairs and Grant Gourlay won the men’s junior singles event.

Inverness Fours Head

The racing continued on Saturday with the Inverness Fours Head event.  All of Clydesdales  fours were on the water for this event, including one boat borrowed from Inverness Rowing Club.  The mist was well and truly gone by this time, having been washed away by the rain.  The two divisions of racing produced more success for the Club, a total of seven wins for Clydesdale including the coveted Antlers Trophy for the fastest boat of the day won by the Men’s Open coxless four stroked by Andrew Barton, with Chris Rae, Andrew McConnell and Joseph Barton.  Other wins included MR1 4X, WO 4-, WJ18 4X, MR2 4X+, WO 4+, OJ16 4+.  The was also a win for Glasgow Schools Rowing Club in Men’s Novice coxed quads.

Inverness Small Boats Head

On Sunday, the squelchy underfoot conditions continued, but the day brought even more wins – a total of 10.  Andrew McConnell and Chris Rae won the  MO 2- event coming second overall in that division.  Other wins in Division 1 included Gavin Murty (M R1 1x), Harry Leask (OJ16 1x), Claire Baillie (W R2 1x),   The fastest boat in Division 2 was a composite double with Gavin Murty from Clydesdale.  Wins for that division included Simon Houghton and Andrew McConnell (M R1 2x), Claudio Galano & Harry Leask (MO J16 2x), Rosie Young and Karen Bennett (W Op 2x), Grant Gourlay (M OJ18 1x), Jennifer Hastie and Claire Baillie (W R2 2x) and Fraser Quinn and Andrew Barton (M R1 2-).

Overall a great weekend for the club with a lot of success on the water and all the fun of a weekend away off the water.  As always these things happen because of the efforts of a large number of people.  In particular thanks is due to Gordon Simpson and Ross Malone for their fleet transport management, as well as Ross Malone, David Leask and Ricky Walsh for towing all of our boats up to Inverness.  Thanks and praise to Maureen Malone, Jacky McAulay and Nadia Sterlini for their herding of the juniors to and from the youth hostel and making sure they all got to where they needed to be.