Great to hear Leven Brown talking about Ocean Rowing for the Friends of North Berwick Museum. Leven has made a career out of breaking records in ocean rowing and talked about his expeditions and plans for 2014 and beyond. Our own Jamie Douglas Hamilton will be joining him next year to be the first crew …
Just when you think that the regatta season is over and you can take a brief respite from the gruelling training regime to which you have subjected yourself, another one appears on the calendar (and indeed in Callander). So it was that the Scottish Coastal Rowing community loaded their boats on the trailers once more time and headed for the shores of Loch Venachar for the SCRA freshwater sprints.
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Not too early a start, to probably the furthest we have travelled for a day event. Both skiffs, and Speedwell riding piggy back, made the journey down to Dumfries and beyond, which went by quickly with plenty of chat. The day was sunny and raining but not much wind. We arrived at Glencapple to re fuel our energy levels at the lovely wee cafe whilst having our briefing, and were given directions and maps whilst enjoying the views over the estuary of the Nith.
Saturday 21st September saw North Berwick Rowing Club adventure south across the border for a “social row” up The Tweed. With only an hour’s drive to reach the start line we were relaxed and jovial on departure.
The sun shone and the warm sandy beach glowed as each of the 12 clubs slid their boats into the calm water of the river. Everyone expected an easy and maybe slightly boring row.What a great day we had for our regatta, OK there was a bit of drizzle later on, but the sea was calm (ish), the wind was down, and the beach was a hive of activity with Sailing, Rowing and the annual North Berwick Raft Race all going on. 13 rowing clubs visited North Berwick …
Seeking a gentle warm-up for the North Berwick regatta, an intrepid NBRC contingent went south of the border, down Newcastle way on the 17th of September to take part in the second Great Tyne row. This is, as the name implies, a row along the river Tyne starting in rural surroundings to the west of Newcastle, passing through Newcastle itself and ending up at Tynemouth. Both skiffs went down accompanied by a newcomer, Speedwell, a Teifi double skiff belonging to a syndicate of club members and making her second outing under her new ownership (the first having been a brief practice the day before).
15th August saw the third North Berwick Rowing Club Trades Cup. The rugby club were back to try to regain the trophy that they have won the previous two years and were joined by the lads from Space, plus two new teams for 2013, the Physiotherapists and the RNLI. None of the teams had any …
And we’re off…the weather is beautiful in Ullapool, all the boats are here and have been launched. Princess Anne arrived in style, by helicopter before boarding a RIB and receiving a “row past” by each of the skiffs…quite a sight. Robbie looked presentable and made us all proud (speech will be online soon!) The competition …
Day 2 and it’s the long distance race. The plan was for the men to race approx 5 miles from Ullapool to Ardmair and then for the ladies to race back. Turned out a little differently, the men set off at 11:00am heading North West out of Loch Broom into a stiff wind and choppy. …
North Berwick Ladies, old and young, led the way to gold success at the Worlds. First golds went to the ladies U17 crew Then Holly and Isla doubled up to take further gold in the U19 Ladies (with the fourth crew member coming from our friends at Dunbar) Not to be outshone by youth our …