In a school dominated by rugby and hockey, the boat club has always achieved more than was expected of it. The wooden boathouse next to the narrow, winding canal in Edinburgh is testament to this. Some of my fondest memories and closest friends come from the Sunday Sculling Ladder or road trips to far flung places such as London and Nottingham.
The club is no stranger to success. For a long period of time it has provided athletes for the Scotland Home International Team and currently holds the record for the J16 4+ and WJ18 8+ at the British Rowing Championships. Watsonians such as James Stevenson, Callum Mcbrierty and Murray Wilkojc have gone on to represent Great Britain at a variety of levels. Sir Chris Hoy learned to row on the humble canal and made the switch to cycling after representing Scotland.
At the beginning of each school year, the annual learn to row course sees well over 100 J13s venturing down Colinton Road and take to the water for the firs time. Throughout my tenure at the club, there has always been far more rowers than available seats in boats with participation taking centre stage. As such there will always be a fleet of minibuses desperately trying to park as the club tours some of Scotland’s most attended races such as Inverness Head in November or the Scottish Championships come June. The club focuses primarily on sculling. This has been backed up by investments in Quads and Doubles from the likes of Empacher and Filippi. However, there has been a variety of notable achievements in sweep crews. Most significantly, the 1st VIII in 2015 was the first Scottish crew to qualify for the Princess Elizabeth, before going on to win a silver medal at the British Championships.
My first year of rowing saw Jason Foster take over from Jim Ferguson, the stalwart who had led the club for years before. Jason was supported by a fantastic coaching staff across all age groups and his departure paved the way for current Head Coach, Matt Mole to fill some big shoes that had left an imprint on the top end of rowing in the U.K.
Wherever possible, the club escapes from the Union canal to Auchinstary or Strathclyde Park, host of the European Championships in 2018, for more productive sessions. Land sessions are done above the rugby changing rooms in area that resembles a greenhouse on the rare occasion the Scottish sun comes out. However, the annual training camps to France or the Netherlands helps prepare crews for the summer racing season. The daily ‘spanner of the day’ nomination was always a highlight with the winner receiving a 30mm spanner to carry around for the next day…
“You will go your separate ways, but you will always remember your school VIII and the memories you made together for life.”
Jason Foster pre Brit Champs 2015
This summary of GWCBC has turned into a fond trip down memory lane. The unique quirks and characteristics never leave your memory. As a result of often being overlooked both by the school but also nationally, an underdog mentality was created throughout my time, determined to prove to ourselves that some misfits from Edinburgh could cut the mustard. Those who last six years on the canal can pat themselves on the back before heading down their respective paths. Despite not having an alumni club, the world has a funny way of bringing Watsonians together. As the old saying goes, “you’re never more than a mile away from a Watsonian.” Good Luck to the current batch of rowers at George Watson’s College Boat Club. I continue to follow your progress with a great deal of pride.
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