Nine coaches from a variety of SCRA clubs passed their written exam for the UKCC Fixed seat rowing coaches course held recently in Greenock.

The successful coaches, pictured below are (left to right) Iain Sinclair (Rollicking Rowing Club, Lochgilphead), John Curtis (Boatie Blest, Cockenzie and Port Seton), Robbie Wightman (North Berwick, and Convenor of Scottish Coastal Rowing Association), Ali Grant (RowPorty, Portobello), Sarah Hayward (course tutor from Welsh Rowing), Alan Farrell (Troon RC), Fergus Allison (RowPorty) Mick Boden(Troon), Jon Gerrard (Boatie Blest) and Tom Hares (Dunbar CRC)

Trust me I am a "coach"

The coaches underwent four days of intensive lectures and practical assessments of thier coaching abilities. This included time on the water instructing each other.

Immersion recovery drills

Having undertaken the first part of the course, the coaches must now go back to their clubs and practice what they have learned. They will then be assessed by a British Rowing assessor, at their own clubs, hopefully in September.

Jim Ford of Royal West passed his assessement the day before this course, meaning that Scottish Coastal Rowing now has four fully qualified Level 2 coaches. Jim has joins Adam Graham and Ian Clark, also from Royal West and Topher Dawson from Ullapool.

All the coaches are committed to promoting safe and enjoyable rowing, and if your club would like to have some input from one of the coaches, or if you would like to attend this intensive course yourself at some time in the future, please contact Adam Graham, Training and Development officer for the SCRA.

Royal West are planning a Spectacular Aquatic Extravaganza. Follow the link below to their club webiste page explaining the weekend.

http://www.rwsabc.co.uk/club-rowing-regatta/

Not only will you have an opportunity to race along the Historic Greenock Esplanade but you will also be able to try out a variety of rowing craft, canoes and possibly sailing dinghys too.

Have a look and make an entry. The camping option is not bad either.

We have been approached by the Antrim Coast Rowing Association to provide 6 Scottish rowers (in kilts if possible), to take part in a Virtual Row at a venue in Belfast on 16th June.

The event will be on Ergometers.

The ACRA will be providing travel via ferry to Belfast and accommodation while you are there.

Anyone interested should contact Elaine Nelson via elainenelson01@hotmail.com to confirm your interest. Please also copy in myself at secretary@rwsabc.com.

Adam Graham

Boats, Bridges, Bunting and Burgers being burnt by barbecue made for a wonderful launch of St Margaret’s Hope at North Queensferry.

On Sunday 06 May North Queensferry launched their skiff and named her St Margarets’s Hope. In front of a good crowd from in and around the village. The weather held back and the sea was kind for all the rowers. We were well supported from Royal West, Anstruther, Newhaven and South Queensferry. Under the backdrop of the two famous bridges all the rowers worked off the calories gained from the perfectly charred burgers on offer. St Margaret’s Hope looked resplendent in her blue and white livery against all the newly varnished timber. Peter Locke from South Queensferry was invited to cox for us on her maiden row. This was our way of showing our respect and gratitude to South Queensferry for all of the support given to us over the last couple of years. There was this atmosphere all day of people swapping around the crews, such is the good honest comradeship around the members of the Scottish Coastal Rowing.

That’s our first skiff in now, so we have something to play with and can let the crew from the South have their boat back to themselves. Frank our boat builder is having a couple of weeks off then he starts all over again with the next kit, launching around September, looks like another party on the Pier (any excuse).

On behalf of NQCRC I want to say how much we’re all looking forward to meeting up with you around the regattas. If we have never met then please come over and say hello, it will be nice to meet with you all.

Kind Regards

Gordon Scobie
NQCRC

Visiting crews from Royal West of Scotland ABC, Queensferry CRC, St. Ayles RC, North Berwick RC, Row Porty and Dunbar CRC were welcomed to Cockenzie & Port Seton’s regatta over the weekend.

Racing started at 11am on the Saturday with the annual Cockenzie v Port Seton race. This acted as a demonstration for the visiting crews as to the course. There were then 23 races in total on Saturday starting with a series of heats before the lunch break. After lunch there were the semi-finals and finals.
Some of the racing was very close, all of it was exciting for those taking part and those watching. Spectators gathered above the beach in the outer harbour could only see one of the two boats as they approached the finish line, meaning they had no idea until the last minute who was going to win.

The Saturday finals were contested and won by the following:

Mens 40+ C&PS v NBRC C&PS winning

Womens 40+ C&PS v St.Ayles RC C&PS winning

Mixed Open NBRC v C&PS NBRC winning

Following the prize giving ceremony there was a fun event with the clubs racing from Port Seton Harbour to Cockenzie Harbour and back. The fun element was that there was a crew change at Cockenzie Harbour. C&PS led the way into Cockenzie Harbour where a very efficient St.Ayles RC crew over took them in the changeover. On the way back St.Ayles RC held off C&PS until around 300 yards from the harbour, where C&PS started to pull away. A very impressive effort from NBRC on the second leg saw them catch the two front runners at a remarkable pace.

A Ceilidh/Disco was held on Saturday night which entertained around 60 people, plenty of soup was had by all.

There were 12 races on Sunday with finals contested and won by the following:

Mens open NBRC v C&PS NBRC winning
Womens open C&PS v NBRC C&PS winning
Mixed 50+ C&PS v NBRC C&PS winning

Quickest time all weekend was set by NBRC Mens open team in a time of – 2mins 6 seconds.

Regatta organisers across the SCRA clubs were set a very high standard by this event.
Venue – Ideal
Tides – Perfectly timed
Weather – Fantastic
Hospitality – Perfect (Especially the tea tent)
Racing – Exciting
Fun – In abundance

Boatie Blest would like to thank everyone for attending.

We have heard from the SCA and RYA that the above consultation is underway. You can read more about it on the following webpage:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/01/04112146/0

In short there is a significant risk that every watersports club conducting any form of training may need to be inspected by a government agent and pay a license, unless the consultation that is now open provides clear opinion to the contrary.

Other that the financial implications, this would place further pressure on the volunteer coaches within clubs. Please look at the webpage and register your opinion before 30th March 2012.

Please see attached the Rowing information pack for the Festival Regatta

Dalriada Rowing Pack 2012

Have also been asked by the Antrim Coast Rowing Association if there are any SCRA clubs interested in a charity row across the Irish Sea, probably May or June, in support of a cancer charity I think. It will probably be televised and may have a fairly major Irish celebrity participant (one of the Boyz that can sing a bit).

The route being discussed it to Portpatrick from a point on the Irish side that suits the tides on the chosen date. It should be somewhere in the regions of 20 miles. Logistics are being arranged at the moment and a selection of dates are to be submitted to the Celebrity’s “people” for them to work out when he is available.

P & O are going to cover the ferry costs.

If you are interested as a club or as an individual please contact me on rowing@rwsabc.com.

Adam

This is a preliminary notice to gauge interest.

A tutor from Welsh Rowing is willing to run the course while in Scotland on a family holiday. It would be run over the middle two weekends of April, dates as follows:
7th/8th April & 14th/15th April

Please note that the first weekend is the Easter Weekend.

A very rough estimate of the cost is £ 300.00/person. This is for the course only and does not include accommodation (if required) or the pre-requisite qualifications such as personal affiliation to British Rowing, First Aid or Safegaurding & Protecting Children courses.

There will probably be only 10 places available. The venue will be at Royal West in Greenock to minimise any costs for use of facilities or launching.

Anyone interested should get in touch with myself asap, either via adam_graham@hotmail.com or rowing@rwsabc.com

Hello Everyone and a Happy New Year to you all.

It is that time of year to start planning for attendance at regattas in the coming year. I hope after the success we had with the Dalriada Regatta you will all be interested in attending this year to try and win the Dalriada Challenge Cup. (in better weather)

The dates for Dalriada Festival 2012 is the 13th -21st July, the rowing regatta will be held on Saturday 21st July. This year we will have hopefully more races for juniors and we will be starting at 12.00 midday. All along the marina will be a funfair and attractions for all the family. After the awards there will be a Fancy Dress Parade for everyone to take part in, with a free Barbeque and live music. This will be set along the beach front, followed by a fireworks display ending the regatta and the Dalriada Festival. There will be a Disco for all the Rowers and friends and family in the Bridge End Tavern Pub in the centre of Glenarm.

There is a free camp site and caravan park in Glenarm castle for all competitors and family, so please contact me with your clubs entry and accommodation needed and I will secure these bookings. SCRA clubs have been offered use of the Still Waters Bunkhouse on the hill overlooking Glenarm. It can accommodate a large number, has a kitchen and showers so that little bit more comfortable.

For those travelling from Scotland this year there will be travel discounts. I will confirm in the next 2-3 weeks exactly what P&O is offering, hopefully it will be the same as last year. The bookings for 2012 will be secured through me as I will be the contact for the bookings with P&O. So please remember first come first served.

Please notify any Rowing clubs in your area that you think might be interested in taking part. You can e-mail me or my contact numbers are as follows.

Bookings should be made to Elaine via one of the routes below but as Royal West attended last year you can also contact them on rowing@rwsabc.com with questions.

Tel. no. 02828841184
Mob. no. 07727235047
Address. 9 Channel Vista, Glenarm. Ballymena. BT44 0AG.
Email elainenelson01@hotmail.com

The Dalriada festival website is being updated at present so for any other information for the festival week please log on.

In the next 2 weeks Dalriada Rowing Facebook will set up, again we will keep everyone informed about registration forms etc.

Good Luck Everyone

Elaine Nelson