News

Posted: March 8, 2016

15 Scottish crews from 7 clubs raced on the Tideway in London last Saturday, in weather that can only have made them feel more at home. The Women’s Eights Head of the River Race saw 2,880 rowers in 320 crews battling along the same 7km stretch between Mortlake and Putney. This is now the largest women’s rowing race in the world and the only race in the UK where novices can compete in the same race as Olympic champions.

The Scottish contingent saw a wide range of crews competing across the elite, intermediate and novice categories. The highest placing Scottish crew was Edinburgh University A which placed an impressive 14th, their highest ever placing at Women’s Eights Head of the River Race. Edinburgh University B who started 151 clawed their way up to a 52nd finish, less than a minute behind their first eight. Edinburgh University C competing in the novice category finished 114th with the Edinburgh University D crew, also competing in novice, finishing 191st.

Glasgow University Boat Club also had four eights racing for the University pennant. Glasgow University A, competing in the elite category, finished 35th, their highest placed finish at this event and only 37 seconds behind Edinburgh University A. Glasgow’s second eight were also well within the top 100 finishing 63rd.

Also competing for the University pennant were Robert Gordon University and Aberdeen University with two composite eights entered. The first eight finished 55th, just 5 seconds outside of the top 50. The second eight made up of novices from the two Universities finished 253rd, 14 seconds behind Glasgow University’s novice eight.

The final Scottish institution competing for the University pennant was St Andrew’s University Boat Club. Their first eight finished just outside the top 100 in 102nd place. USTABC novice eight finished 288th.

Competing for the club pennant were Clydesdale ARC, with two intermediate eights, and Aberdeen Boat Club with a novice eight. Clydesdale had both boats finish well within the top 200 and only 38 seconds apart. The first 8 finished in 120th and the second eight finished 176th. Aberdeen Boat Club’s novice eight finished 280th, ahead of two of the Scottish university novice eights.

Huge congratulations to all the Scottish crews on what is always a tough course. Full results can be found at www.wehorr.org

Photo credit: jet photography www.jetphotographic.com