News
Global Pride Month 2020
Posted: 26 June 2020
Global Pride provides an opportunity for the LGBTQ+ community around the world to come together and celebrate diversity and equality during these challenging times. As signatories of the Scottish LGBT Charter for Sport, Scottish Rowing are committed to supporting individuals within the LGBTQ+ community and highlighting the importance of representation within our clubs and our sport. We are delighted to share the following three stories from our members:
Reflections - Henley Women’s Regatta by Lee Boucher – Head of Performance Pathway
Posted: 20 June 2020
This weekend should have seen the return of Henley Women’s Regatta featuring more than 1,500 rowers from across the UK and around the world. In recent years, this has become an increasingly popular competition for Scottish clubs, with rowers enjoying the opportunity to compete on the world-famous regatta course and test themselves against the best in the country.
For the last two years, Scottish Rowing has worked with our clubs to facilitate opportunities for junior rowers from across Scotland to come together and enjoy the ‘Henley experience’. Whilst some of our clubs have sufficient numbers and depth to field their own crews, for many junior programmes in Scotland this opportunity isn’t always possible, and these projects have been crucial for bringing people together.
Read more: Reflections - Henley Women’s Regatta by Lee Boucher – Head of Performance Pathway
Scottish Rowing - Update following First Minister's Statement
Posted: 18 June 2020
Scottish Rowing is pleased to be able to provide an update on the proposals for a phased return to sport following the First Minister’s Statement today, 18th June 2020.
As a sport we recognise and promote the benefits of rowing for physical and mental wellbeing and in particular the benefits of being outdoors and we welcome the progression to Phase 2 and the publication of updated guidelines for the return to physical activity.
The Phase 2 changes announced by the Scottish Government today will be introduced in stages rather than all at once. As of today, we have updated our current guidance to reflect only the changes in the Scottish Government guidelines relating to seeing family and friends. This guidance will take effect from tomorrow (19th June) and is available on our website.
A number of other changes to the guidelines were announced which will take effect from the 29th June. We are reviewing these and if necessary will update our own guidance setting out the conditions under which rowing can take place in Phase 2 to ensure participants who are able to row can do so safely and in accordance with the Scottish Government guidelines. Once this review is complete, we will publish our updated advice for clubs.
It is vital that as a sport we continue to support the wider public health agenda by taking a gradual and socially responsible approach to our phased return to rowing and the continued support of the rowing community in this is much appreciated.
Please note that you should continue to follow the current published Scottish Rowing Guidance.
Scottish Rowing appoints Steve O’Connor to revitalise Rowing Centre at Strathclyde Park
Posted: 16 June 2020
Scottish Rowing is delighted to announce the appointment of Steve O’Connor as the new Business Manager for the Scottish Rowing Centre. In this role Steve will be responsible for maximising the potential of Scottish Rowing's recently upgraded rowing training facility at Strathclyde Park in North Lanarkshire through building sustainable local partnerships, community outreach programmes and commercial opportunities as well as enabling access for club and performance rowers.
Read more: Scottish Rowing appoints Steve O’Connor to revitalise Rowing Centre at Strathclyde Park
Olympic Silver Medallist Karen Bennett Athlete Highlight
Posted: 15 June 2020
Image by Naomi Baker
There has been plenty of time to reflect on things recently. I’ve taken the time to think and briefly write about my time in the GB rowing team in the build up to the Rio Olympics.
In May 2015 I managed to get invited to train with the GB Womens team. That summer I gained a lot of experience racing, as a spare pair at 2 World Cups then a 4- at the World Championships where I won a silver medal. Coming back after the Worlds in 2015 I was very aware it was going to be an extremely tough year to get myself into an Olympic boat. There were a lot of strong and talented women around. The 8+ had placed 4th at the 2015 World Championships which meant they qualified the boat for the Olympics. I knew there was scope for me in that boat and that was the goal.
Read more: Olympic Silver Medallist Karen Bennett Athlete Highlight
Scottish Rowing Q&A Series Part 3: Olympians
Posted: 12 June 2020
In the latest instalment of the Scottish Rowing Q&A Series we are joined by three Scottish Rowing icons, who collectively have represented Great Britain at every Olympic Games dating back to Barcelona 1992.
Join Lee Boucher and guest host, Scottish Rowing Board member and Olympian Dot Roberts (1992, 1996, 2000) as we speak with Olympians Dame Katherine Grainger DBE (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016) and Heather Stanning OBE (2012, 2016) about their experiences taking up and progressing through the sport, what it is like competing on the world stage and how they have been adjusting to life after rowing on Monday 15th June 7pm.
The Q&A will be held via Zoom for members that sign up through the Azolve membership system, you will receive an invitation by email. The session will also be streamed live on the Scottish Rowing Facebook page.
What is Scottish Rowing doing to promote diversity and inclusion? (2)
Posted: 11 June 2020
Following recent anti-racist campaigns online and protests across the UK we have been asked by some of our clubs what Scottish Rowing is doing to promote diversity and inclusion in our sport and felt it was important to answer this question and share the response with all our members.
Read more: What is Scottish Rowing doing to promote diversity and inclusion? (2)
Scottish Rowing Covid-19 Update – First Minister’s Statement 28th May 2020
Posted: 28 May, 2019
Scottish Rowing welcomes the First Minister’s announcement that Scotland is now moving to Phase 1 of the route map and in particular the inclusion of the extension to the current daily exercise guidelines to include certain outdoor sport activities.
We have been working closely with sportscotland and other Scottish Governing bodies of sport to work up our plans for how rowing activities can return as the lockdown eases and will continue to work closely with them over the coming weeks.
We are now able to publish our detailed guidance for Phase 1 which sets out the conditions under which rowing can take place and ensures participants who are able to row can do so safely and in accordance with the Scottish Government Guidelines. This Guidance can be found on our Covid-19 Phase 1 Guidance page.
Read more: Scottish Rowing Covid-19 Update – First Minister’s Statement 28th May 2020
Covid-19 Update - Scottish Rowing statement following First Minister's Announcement- 21st May 2020
Posted: 21 May 2020
Scottish Rowing is pleased to be able to provide an update on the proposals for a phased return to sport following the First Minister’s Statement today and welcomes the publication of “Covid-19: A Framework for Decision Making, Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis”.
Obituary
Posted: 19 May 2020
Scottish Rowing is sad to report the death of Martin Cowie on 4th May in London where he had lived for a number of years.
Martin learned to row at Nithsdale ARC and represented the Scotland Rowing Team at the 1999 Home International Regatta in the JM2- and JM4-. He went on to attend Heriot Watt University and played a key role in development of the boat club in the early 2000s.