On Friday 21st September 12 intrepid rowers set off up the A9 to attend Cromarty Rowing Club’s 2 day regatta. After an obligatory refuelling stop at House of Bruar, we arrived in Cromarty in the late afternoon and those of us who were camping pitched our tents on the Links before we all headed out for a carb loading meal in the evening in a local hostelry.
We woke to a bright, clear day with a light breeze and watched as they laid the buoys for the 2.1km triangular course and a start line enabling all 16 clubs to set off at once. Those of us coxing viewed this with trepidation knowing that there would be a lot of shouts of “give water” at that first turn. A simple solution is to get to the buoy first, no pressure crews.
The chat in the gazebo was about how many races we were each doing that day. 12 people, 5 in a crew, 8 races on Saturday equals a lot of rowing or coxing. Thank goodness there was a break for lunch. That said, we had a very successful day with medals won by 60+W (gold), 50+W (bronze), 50+Mixed (bronze) and 40+ Mixed (silver). The 40+ Mixed crew was the first of our two couples crews of the weekend with Mary-Ann and Dave rowing with Claire and Sandy. It must be said that the average of the group was well over 60 so to do well in younger age categories says a lot about our tenacity at rowing and coxing. The day was rounded off at a BBQ hosted by Cromarty Rowing Club and a serious chat about the rules of racing using helpful props.
We woke up on Sunday morning to perfect rowing conditions, calm sea, no wind, and blue skies. Only 6 races today but still only 12 of us so again lots of rowing and coxing. I think the phrase of the day was “what again!” Everyone rowed hard and it paid off with medals in the 50+ Mixed (gold), Mixed decades (bronze), Open Women (bronze), 280 Mixed (silver), and 40+Mixed (silver). The 50+ Mixed crew was our second couples crew with Jo and Clive joining Dave and Mary-Ann this time who, after an excellent start, led all the way round the course.
We were all really pleased when we discovered that even though we were a small group we ended up coming 4th out of 16 clubs, an excellent achievement. Well done North Berwick Rowing Club Cromarty 2026. Looking forward to next year already.
Ann Hume
PS lots more photos below on Flickr
