The new equipment will enable the club to increase participation in rowing, with a particular focus on those communities not previously associated with the sport. Clydesdale Amateur Rowing Club, with assistance from sponsor Henry Abram & Sons, sportsmatch, Awards for All, Culture and Sport Glasgow and the Sports Council for Glasgow have together made a huge investment which will help increase participation, promote healthier lifestyles and build stronger communities.

Michael and Stephen Abram of Henry Abram & Sons said: “Clydesdale ARC introduced us to rowing and what a success it has been. The members enthusiasm and love for the sport, which was quite apparent the moment we set foot in the clubhouse, immediately rubbed off on the 2 of us and as a result we just had to put something into the club. We are delighted to be involved in this project and it has given us tremendous satisfaction to be part of this project. If you want to experience the 'feel good factor' then join CARC and start rowing! It certainly worked for us. We wish the club all success with the new boat and now await line honours!!”

The equipment purchase will help Clydesdale Amateur Rowing Club increase participation at all levels. Club President Michele Jowitt said “The support of Henry Abrams & Sons has been maximised with our sportsmatch award for the purchase of the oars. The Awards for All grant towards the boat means that we can get more people out on the water more often. This is the largest investment in our 153-year history and we hope to get more people than ever before involved in rowing with the ongoing development support of Culture and Sport Glasgow and the Sports Council.”

Louise Martin CBE, Chair of sportscotland said: Clydesdale Amateur Rowing Club is one of more than 1,600 sports groups throughout Scotland to have benefited from over £4.4m of sportsmatch investment in grassroots sport. Our thanks go to Henry Abram & Sons for this sponsorship. This is a great example of how businesses working in partnership with sporting organisations and sportsmatch can make a significant contribution to community sport, enhancing the lives of many young people in Scotland.”

The boat naming and launch ceremony was at Clydesdale Amateur Rowing Club, West Boathouse , Glasgow Green on Tuesday 8 June at 6.30pm. Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Archie Graham invited Michael and Stephen Abram to name the boat and launch it. Representatives from sportscotland and Culture and Sport were in attendance with all club members.

Funded by the Scottish Government and administered by sportscotland, sportsmatch was launched in 1992 to encourage businesses to sponsor community sport projects. Today, sportsmatch partners a wide range of businesses of all sizes, matching their sponsorship £ for £ and publicly acknowledging their contribution to sport in the community.