Placed just after the easter holidays, the Scottish Rowing Spring Regatta provides the ideal setting to blow off some winter cobwebs and for some, the lethargy of a few weeks off rowing. And the forecast did look like a breezy one – somewhat concerning were the emails from Scottish Rowing about contingency plans for those of us that had not checked the forecast and were still blissfully on holiday mode.
Saturday was dominated by our juniors, bringing home two golds 🥇🥇 and three silvers 🥈🥈🥈although the wind was doing a good job of dominating the rowing also, thankfully providing more of a tail wind than a cross wind. Shay Hammock and Robin Roxburgh led the way with gold in the J16 2- in a strong time of 7:45 and went on to take silver in the J16 2x in a time of 7:34. Matthew McManus then missed out on gold by just one second in the J14 1x (although he would go in to collect the full set with gold, silver and bronze). Keeping the medals flowing in the McManus family, Hannah, in a composite WJ16 4x with Strathclyde Park RC, took the second gold of the day. Wilbur Grant also raced to silver in the J15 1x. Honourable mention should also go to Tim Latham, putting in a strong performance for the seniors in the Nov 1x, only coming 6th in the final but with 2nd to 6th covered by just 4 seconds the position doesn’t tell the whole story.
Sunday dawned mercifully calm, or almost as calm as Strathclyde Park gets! And it was the seniors turn to pile up the medals (🥇🥇🥇🥇🥈), although the juniors kept on delivering too (🥇🥈🥈). The Mas C 2- grudge match was first up, Inverness C vs Inverness A…… and it produced a great race with both crews going faster than they had done before, but after a quick start C (McManus and Andrews) took the gold by 3 seconds (3:34) over A (Latham and Hopkins). All settled till next time 😊. Inverness B pair (Mas E 2-) was next up and Robert and Dave overcame a big time handicap to beat their regular rivals from Aberdeen BC (not their age). Shay and Robin were then back in action, but this time in separate boats in the J16 1x, Shay taking 2nd in 7:59 and Robin placing a strong 4th. Our senior A and B pairs then teamed up to take gold in the Mas 4+ A-E before the juniors fought back with silver in the WJ14 1x (E. Heitman), gold (Matthew McManus and Austin Grant) and bronze (the Lukes) in the J14 2x, and second place in the J18 8+ which saw them improve as they rowed down the course (maybe some more practice next time 😊). The day was rounded of by a final win for the seniors taking gold in the R2 2- beating a host of student crews in a time of 7:38.
As always brilliant to see so many IRC rowers (and scullers) competing and there were many amazing performances from those that may not have medalled, some racing for the first time. Also fantastic support from all involved in getting everyone and everything down to Strathclyde Park (and back) and giving so much energy throughout the day. Now onwards to the rest of the regatta season!