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News Archive:

2005
2004
December 2003
November 2003
October 2003
September 2003
August 2003
July 2003
June 2003
May 2003
April 2003
March 2003
February 2003
January 2003
2002

28 February

Traffic hassle at Strathclyde Park: a reminder that the road works at the Motherwell entrance (traffic lights) to the Park start tonight, with the junction closed from 2000hrs each Friday to 0600hrs Monday for about the next 6 weeks. The only vehicle access at weekends will be via the Raith Interchange (at the north end of the Park) and then the long way round past M&D's funfair.

27 February

Appeal for Clydesdale 8s and 4s Head results: apparently lots of people rushed off with hard copies from the event - shortly before somebody pushed the wrong button and deleted the results file for Race A (Oops!). As a result, nobody has any record of times - and Alan Easson can't work out who won the University Winter League. Do you have a hard copy? If so please scan it and forward to Christine Kerr at Clydesdale in the first instance (or drop her a line if you don;t have access to a scanner).

Start Order for the Aberdeen Eights Head (this Saturday) is now up.

Crews Weigh In for City of Aberdeen Universities Boat Race: a press release and photo from sponsors Aberdeen Asset Management in the run-up to this Sunday's race at 1.00pm on the Dee. The Boat Race proper is preceded by the Alumni Race, in which RGU are the current holders.

26 February

Glasgow Small Boats Head: the poster with events offered is now up, together with the entry form. The Head is on 22 March, closing date for entries is 16 March.

Women's Tideway: the start order for 15th March is now up

24 February

Clydesdale Eights and Fours Head: I have an unusual groveling e-mail from the organisers apologising for the loss of the results file for the first race (!), but here are the results from Race B.

A number of Scottish crews then went on to the Head of the Trent on Sunday, results of which are here.

Free access to water at Strathclyde Park: free access continues, but there is a need for both SARA and North Lanarkshire to monitor use. From 1st March a new scheme will require water users to complete a registration form which will get them a swipe card to use on their future visits.

Good-as-new Stampfli 1x for sale: an unusual advert on the 'for sale' page

21 February

Amended Start Order for tomorrow's Clydesdale 8s and 4s Head

Tideway Scullers' Head and Veteran Scullers' Head: readers will remember the traditional spring 'Scullers Head' which moved to November in 2002. It appears there are now to be two 'scullers heads'; check the link for details of the spring one.

20 February

Coaching from the Bank during Racing: I have been asked to publish the following note. "Following the Inverness VIIIs head on 15 February the Senior Umpire for the event issued a formal caution to one of the Clubs taking part. In the opinion of the Umpires, more than one crew from that Club had been receiving "extraneous assistance" (rule F21) in the form of coaching from people who were following the crews for the entire length of the course. The Umpires have indicated that had it not been for the age and inexperience of the crews involved, disqualifications would have been considered."

Clubs racing in Saturday's Clydesdale Head - and at future events - would be well advised to take heed of this 'final warning': no umpire likes disqualifying any competitor, but there can be no doubt that a crew receiving coaching from the bank (contrary to F21) can gain unfair advantage over one which, through adherence to the rules, does not. Umpires owe it to crews who adhere to the rules to penalise those who do not - and the only penalty mentioned in rule F21 is disqualification.

Scottish Sports Aid Foundation Grants: SSAF offer funding at 4 levels. Criteria and application dates are as follows. Encouragement grants (£250), for youngsters who are just beginning to show their potential to go on and compete at national level. Phase II grants (£275 - £400), for young competitors who have reached the top three in their age group in Scotland and are competing at British age group competitions. Phase III grants (£425 - £700), to age group champions in Scotland who are competing with distinction at british age group level. Bursaries (£750 - £1000), to young competitors who are age group champions in Scotland and are competing with distinction at British age group level, Senior championship level in Scotland, or at European/ World age group level.

The funding award committee meets 3 times annually, with closing dates for applications to each meeting of 24/03/03, 21/07/03 and 17/11/03. Anyone interested in applying for SSAF funding should contact Scotland Team Manager, Tom Baker.

19 February

18 February

Licences: you have been warned! This from SARA Race Control Convenor, Sandy Walker: "With the various Heads now in full swing and the main regatta season imminent, all competitors are reminded that a 2 week turn round is required to obtain a new licence. I do not intend to provide numbers either by phone or electronic means for applicants who for their own reasons have left it until the last minute before deciding they require registration. There will be no exceptions to this position." (Licencing policy, Application form)

Aberdeen Eights Head: it has long been rumoured that Aberdeen is in a different time zone to the rest of the world but, even in Aberdeen, 1st March (the correct date of the Aberdeen Eights Head) remains a Saturday and not, as published on the Committee of the Dee's original information, a Sunday. As Ron's note put it, " Doh!" Entries close next Monday, 24th February.

Dundee University seek rowing coach: if you read the job spec you might think it's a permanent rather than volunteer post. But as the club put it 'we'll aim high and see what we can get . . .'

17 February

At the GB junior trials in Boston at the weekend, Kirsty Myles (Watson's) finished 18th in Saturday's WJ 1x, Anna Anderson and Alex Gemie (Nithsdale) finished 4th in the WJ2-, Chris Logan (Watson's ) 3rd in the J1x and Garry Middleton (Nithsdale) finished 29 th in the J2- rowing in a composite pair with Abingdon.

On Sunday Chris Logan was 1st in the J1x, Kirsty Myles 2nd in the
WJ1x, Anna Anderson and Alex Gemie were 7th in WJ 2-. (thanks to Jim Ferguson for these results)

Photos from Inverness Head: thanks to Roy Sinclair and Iain Carlton of Inverness for this selection. Any other photos from other sources equally welcome! AUBC M O8, ABC W Nov 8, IRC W Nov 8, IRC M Nov 8, GRC M Vet D 8, SABC/IRCM Vet D 8, CSRC M2x, IRC M J18 1x, GRC M O 1x, IRC W Vet C 2x, IRC M Vet B 1x, IRC M Vet B 2x, IRC M Vet C 1x. And newly sent in by Alistair Browne AUBC W R2 2- and GRC M J18 1x

16 February

Caberfeidh Motors Inverness Eights Head: the results are now up. Great day's racing in quite fantastic conditions. Aberdeen University were fastest crew overall (M Open 8) in 15:05 (does anyone know the course record? Conditions were certainly favourable). Fastest women's crew were Aberdeen BC/Castle Semple (W Open 8) in 17:18. The row which impressed this commentator most on the day, however, was Vallance/Cruickshank of Aberdeen Schools with 18:08 in J18 M2-: they beat the entire senior 2- field.

14 February

Important info re Inverness Head: Inverness have asked me to publish these local rules and essential information for competitors, both being intended to assist in the smooth (= enjoyable!) running of tomorrow's event.

12 February

Start order for Caberfeidh Motors Inverness 8s and Small Boats Head: the midnight oil having been duly burned in Inverness, we now have it; Division 1 and Division 2.

11 February

Rowing Instructor course: apparently places on this course are filling up quickly. Additional candidates looking for places might do well to register ASAP without waiting until the closing date of 19 February.

Short macons wanted! SARA development officer Callum MacDonald would like to borrow a set (4 or 8) of short macon sweep blades - perhaps from a women's section or junior club - to try out in the rowing tank at the National Rowing Academy.

Strathclyde Park traffic chaos warning: the junction at the Motherwell end of the Park will be closed for road works each weekend from 1 March to 13 April. Closures will be from 2000 hrs Friday to 0600 hrs Monday each weekend. Access to the Park will be via the Raith Interchange at the north end only in these periods, with traffic having to take the 'long way' round past M&D's funfair. Oh well, at least it'll all be finished before Strathclyde Park Regatta/Scottish Universities Championships on 26 April!

10 February

Pinsent and Cracknell in shock trials defeat: the results (provisional until issued formally from Hammersmith?) of Saturday's trials are now up on the Boston RC site, Div 1 and Div 2. Pinsent and Cracknell finished 2nd in M2- behind Williams and Garbett. Scots took the top 2 places in U23 LM 1x through Gavin Shaw and Jonny Logan respectively (Tom Hanna shown 2nd isn't actually U23, but still a very good result for him). Henry Westwood found himself doing an unexpected 1x after Douglas Murray had to withdraw from their 2- with a bug. Martin Harris and Peter Haining (didn't he retire?) finished 3rd in LM2- with other Anglo-Scots Stewart Bates 6th and Danny Harte 9th. Katherine Grainger was 5th in W 1x, Clare Haley 23rd. Sarah Fettes had to limp home with cramp in U23 LW1x.

9 February

GB Trials: first news of Scottish results from yesterday's trial at Boston is that Gavin Shaw and Jonny Logan were 1st and 2nd respectively in M U23 Lwt. That's all we have so far.

Aberdeen Eights Head: full details of the event (1st March) are now on the Committee of the Dee web site. And on the Sunday (2nd March), the City of Aberdeen Universities' Boat Race - a press release from the organisers.

Eights for Sale: Dundee University have TWO eights on offer on the Sales and Wants page - one free to a good home, the other something of a classic.

Western Head: results of last weekend's Western Head in Glasgow, Div 1 and Div 2

6 February

Scottish Rowing Awards: last few days for nominations (snail mail or on-line). Everyone (not just committees, individual rowing people) with an interest in Scottish Rowing is invited to make nominations in as many categories as you like (this is one occasion when the SARA Executive will be delighted to be showered with correspondence). It's a chance for you to recognise people who inspire you, support you or who in whatever way are a credit to our sport.

Details of how to buy tickets for the Awards Dinner & Dance will be on the site in the next day or two.

4 February

Inverness Head and Scotland Team Trial: a reminder that entries close this Saturday (8th) for next weekend's event (15th). Scotland trialists (who should have registered with Team Manager, Tom Baker, by 31 January) are reminded that the small boats section of the Inverness Head is a compulsory trial under the selection policy: women should race 1x or 2- in Division 1, men should race 1x or 2- in Division 2. This leaves them free to race in their club eights in the other division.

As for the non-triallists, well, I can think of no reason to believe that Inverness Eights and Small Boats Head won't live up to it's reputation as one of the biggest and best events on the Scottish rowing calendar.

3 February

Results of Saturday's Western Head of the River Race for Eights (I only have information on 'winners' so far; full results when I get them): MEN. Open: Glasgow University 17 mins 27 secs. Restricted 1: Glasgow University: 17.42. Restricted 2: Strathclyde University 18.13. Veteran: Glasgow RC 18.49. Novice: Glasgow University 21.00. WOMEN. Open: Clydesdale 19.26. Restricted 1: St Andrew 20.47. Restricted 2: St Andrew 20.47. Novice: Glasgow University Ladies 22.14.

Scottish Rowing Awards Dinner
& Dance

Friday 4th April 2003

Tickets now on sale: link to poster

Reception, Dinner, Awards Ceremony & Live Ceilidh Band,
all in the splendour of the Elphinstone Hall, Aberdeen University

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