Since 2010, Scottish Rowing has worked hard to establish key strategic partnerships with university rowing programmes across Scotland. Backed by Scottish Rowing investment, this approach has been successful in enabling the release of additional local resources through the Director of Sport at each university which has resulted in a significant increase in the number of professional coaches working in the sector.

Currently seven full-time coaches, supported by volunteer coaches, have helped to create the right type of environment for developing young athletes. In 2019, five students from the University of Edinburgh represented Great Britain at the World Under 23 Championships returning with four Gold medals.

Scottish Rowing is currently supporting this approach for the Paris cycle and will recognise and support those university rowing programmes where there is a track record of developing Scottish rowers to an international level and who are committed to supporting the vision for performance rowing in Scotland.

For the 2021/22 season, the following university rowing programmes will be recognised by Scottish Rowing and support will be provided to the local coaching team:

  • Edinburgh University Boat Club (also recognised as a GB Rowing Team High Performance Programme)
  • Glasgow University Boat Club
  • University Rowing Aberdeen (a partnership between Aberdeen University Boat Club & Robert Gordon University Boat Club)

For more information about the rowing programmes at any of these universities please speak to the respective Head Coach – contact details are available on the Scottish Rowing website.

Student athletes at other institutions in Scotland and non-student athletes can benefit from different aspects of the Scottish Rowing Performance Programme and can contact the Scottish Rowing Head of Performance Pathway, lee.boucher@scottish-rowing.org.uk should they require any individual advice or support.