The importance of the Scottish Championships increases the older a rower gets. For Juniors, the regatta doubles up as team selection for the Home International Regatta towards the end of July. The Championships have grown over the past few years and now takes place over three days. All Single Scull and Pair categories participate in Time Trials on day 1 in order to create closer and more competitive racing. Consequently, juniors can be drawn against U23s in semi-finals.
On the sweeping side of things, it was Aberdeen Schools’ Rowing Association who dominated the junior men’s category. GB Trialists Robert Powell and Miles Beeson, who have both been invited to Final Trials, placed 6th in the ‘A’ final and were the quickest junior pair. George Heriots took silver, however, the other rankings were unable to be decided due to racing being cancelled as a result of thunderstorms. ASRSA continued their form with 1st and 2nd place in J18 4+. Glasgow Academy’s Holly Wicklow and Jennifer Olney were the fastest junior women’s pair followed by St Andrew Boat Club and ASRA. Vbv
It was Dale Flockhart who was the fastest junior sculler, finishing second only to U23 World Champion, Matt Curtis. Alex Milne placed second and will be racing at the upcoming GB/France Trials in the single. Ruairidh Smith and Fergus Mainland rounded off the top 4. All of these have been involved in the GB Trials system at some point this season. Rosie Payne of Strathclyde Park RC, last year’s GB U16 sculler, was the fastest junior girl, with trialist Jane Hardie of GHS second. 3rd place went to J15 Anna Buchanan of George Watson’s. Glasgow Academy’s boys double scull of Milne and Smith continued their strong season to win both J18 and Open double sculls. Castle Semple took the honours in the junior women’s event. The junior men’s and women’s Quads went to George Watson’s and St Andrew composite and a Strathclyde Park and Aberdeen University composite respectively.
In the younger age groups, Clydesdale ARC won both J15 and J16 Quads, led by their British 30min ergo record holder, James Morrison. ASRA’s J15s performed well following their successes at National Schools’ Regatta. They too feature an ergo record holder in the form of Chris Bardas who holds records in the half and full marathon.
Conditions across the whole weekend were extremely challenging. High winds and storms caused delays and ultimately some younger events were cancelled and much of Sunday’s racing was decided by a Time Trial.
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