Castle Semple
Scottish Championships
It is our onerous duty to report that Don " -the-Don" is no longer a Novice Sculler. The end came suddenly and unexpectedly in a Restricted 2 sculling event at Clydesdale Regatta.
For some years, Don had been competing at regattas in the Novice division and was deeply proud of his "always first at 250 and always back for more" philosophy. His admirers were looking forward to many more years of such entertainment.
Don is survived in Novice sculling by numerous competitors, all no doubt thinking "must have been a freak accident".
Some of GRC's newest competitors enjoyed the brief glimpse of the sun on Saturday and came away with a few notable wins and other good performances.
The provisional draw for Saturday's prestigious event is available here.
Racing at Nottingham, for GUBC, congratulations are due to
(Good luck with that BUCS web link - if you find any results, please pass them on!)
Thanks to
Jenny for helping with web site
results-finding:
Results:
Sadly - NOT featuring Polly in the stroke seat of the GB women's eight! - Our correspondent, R.M. Reid, Umpire of this parish says:
According to a 'reliable' source ... Polly Swann withdrew from the women's eight and was replaced by "Aberdeenshire's"* Vicky Meyer-Laker.
* - our quotes. They could have said "would you like a kilt on that?"
It's true - GRC stalwarts Anine, Beth, Katharina and Cap'n Jane*, all winners at last week's SUC competiton, head to Nottingham in GUBC colours this weekend, to race at the premier UK University regatta.
* (The Cap'ns dead, long live the Cap'n.)
GRC won 8 SPR events, GRC crews rowing as GUBC won 3 SUC events, Jules coxed the winning Clydesdale (!?!) Junior 8 and there were lots of other good performances; the results are now out - see for yourself. (More details will be added later.)
A lot of excellent pictures, from Malcolm (usual place if you can't wait) and Neil, will be along presently.
As usual, we had a fantastic effort from the whole club - and their families - to make the catering operation a success, in what was a long and cold weekend for many.
We also bid a fond farewell to Cap'n Jo who is leaving us for a new opportunity in the Far East (no, not Embra - even further than that!).
Don spotted this, and says
Olima in a GRC boat go all over the internet!
Explaining rowing to a non-rower
It's that time of year when the sap is rising and we like to look beyond the bounds of our own little club in search of amusement. Thank heaven for SPR...
Clydesdale's Summer Regatta Secretary would like to invite all fellow rowers to this prestigious event.
Now... where did I put that quote from Jim MacRitchie?
This weekend - Strathclyde Park Regatta, both days, with GRC doing the catering again. Have you signed up to help yet?
UPDATED - AGAIN! - Here is the latest version of the catering rota, on GRCMembers.
Lots of GRC races at SPR; here is the UPDATED draw, with GRC races and finals highlighted. If any are missing, contact the webmaster.
Following from her recent success at GB trials (see below), Polly has been selected for the GB eight at the next World Cup regatta, in Belgrade.
Mr Warnock, Snr. will be very pleased!
From the SR Web site:
... ensure Scotland's younger generation play an active and significant rôle in developing and influencing policy in sport. If you are between 14 and 25 years old and are interested in getting involved, the job description and application forms can be downloaded at: www.youngscot.org/sportpanel. Applications close on Friday 20th April 2012.
Snapper Ron has some excellent pictures from Tideway, mostly of Aberdonian crews, but also other Scottish boats, including GRC and Clydesdale.
Long lens, obviously.
David Nolan has added pictures of the Scullers Head and the Double Sculls. Look in the column to the right, below the HoRR photos.
Roy ( Colin's dad) Sinclair of Inverness RC has kindly sent on some good photos of GRC finally getting past the crew in front at Tideway.
Look in the right column for lots of 8s & 4s Head photos, from David Nolan.
Feeling was that they did well but were badly obstructed by another crew.
Top Scottish crew, again, by a long way. Only 10 seconds would have raised them to 30 th - that's how close the racing is at that event.
Rotten weather by the sound of things.
Nice to see St Andrews Uni do so well...
| Finish | Start | Status | Crew |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | 64 | S | GRC |
| 105 | 122 | Lt 1 | Scot. Argonauts I |
| 126 | 133 | IM 1 | Scot. Argonauts II |
| 159 | 217 | IM 2 | Edinburgh Uni I |
| 192 | 285 | IM 3 | St. Andrews Uni |
| 200 | 75 | IM 3 | Clydesdale I |
| 241 | 170 | IM 3 | Aberdeen Uni I |
| 262 | 251 | IM 3 | Deeside Scullers |
| 270 | 190 | IM 2 | Clydesdale II |
| 284 | 149 | IM 3 | Strathclyde Uni I ( Don) |
| 288 | 234 | Nov | Edinburgh Uni II |
| 361 | 137 | Nov | Glasgow Uni |
| 364 | 257 | Nov | Heriot-Watt Uni |
| 373 | 383 | Nov | Strathclyde Uni II |
| 375 | 386 | Nov | Aberdeen Uni II |
...er, that's it. Corrections welcome!
Our most recent GB team members - Polly and Sam, who both rowed in successful GRC boats before competing at the World Under-23 championships in 2010 - have recorded great results at the GB Senior trials at the weekend.
Polly was 4 th in the women's pair, while Sam was 6 th in lightweight sculls.
At Saturday's CARC eights head (billed as the 63rd*), both GRC eights were victorious again. The men's crew were easily the fastest crew of the day. Later, the Women's Novice crew won their pennant - unbeaten in Scotland this season.
However, the BIG news was the win for Tom in his first-ever race for GRC in MVet 4s.
* Described eloquently thus:
...pretentious historical tosh...
(© J MacR)
| FINISH | Start | Status | Crew |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 42 | IM2 | Edinburgh University BC A |
| 55 | 61 | IM3 | GRC 'A' |
| 57 | 189 | IM1 | Aberdeen BC/Clydesdale ARC |
| 154 | 149 | IM3 | Edinburgh University BC B |
| 168 | 234 | IM3 | Strathclyde University BC |
| 193 | 79 | IM3 | Aberdeen University BC |
| 200 | 269 | Nov Club | GRC 'B' |
| 210 | 204 | IM3 | Aberdeen BC A |
| 213 | 266 | Nov Ac | Edinburgh University BC C |
| 229 | 223 | IM3 | Heriot-Watt University BC |
| 267 | 205 | IM3 | Aberdeen BC B |
Look in the right column for lots of SUBC Head photos, from David Nolan.
At Inverness, every GRC competitor was in a winning or fastest boat:
Meanwhile, at Boston:
The provisional draw is now online. GRC crews starting #58 (2nd Scottish crew?) and #267.
The Tradition It all started so well... Ronnie printed a 'menu' as usual.  The boys huddled in the corner and compared their... notes, unaware that the mirror keeps no secrets.  Graeme introduced "No Mo? No Matter" his invisible dance partner  Steph and Amanda ("no publicity") get down to the nitty-gritty.  Steph raids the inner sanctum for more supplies. "I didn't get where I am by stinting!"  Back to normal! "Gie's your money!" says Kenny as a vigilant but trusting Ronnie looks on. The 2010 edition of the GRC Annual Burns Supper (15th year) was one to remember with the competitive urges coming off the water and enlivening the quiet tradition of haggis, recitation and sly innuendo. There was a little lapse in decorous standards when the evenings speakers exposed more than they intended of their party pieces, but we've seen worse. (The 'Dragged-Up' speaker of 2005 comes to mind.) However, the evening really kicked off when 'The Showdown in the Dessert" began between two of 'The Lasses'. Was a winner recorded? Who knows - but at the end, there was a cry of "Weel done, Cutty Sark!", closely followed by "Can someone please get a bucket?" The evening returned to normal form when Ronnie did his usual best to bring out the best of the evening's guests - their cash. |
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