With the Scottish Championships coming up this weekend, many of the home clubs of Scotland are preparing to race each other at Strathclyde Park. With this weekend’s races being a qualifying regatta to represent Scotland for Home International Regatta, many athletes entered will be wanting to win to get a firm foot in the door for selection.
Women’s Quad
A total of four entries into the women’s quadruple sculls category. The Aberdeen University crew is made up of Alexandra Cassell, Katharine Kusserow, Eleanor Black and Morgan Nunez who is also in the double.
Edinburgh University has put forward Aerin Thompson, Charlotte Cooper, Mia Freischem and Olivia Schmidt, these ladies are also racing together and against each other in the doubles.
St Andrews and Strathclyde Park have entered a composite of Elizabeth Adlam, Isabella Checkley, Sarah Golding, and Gillian Connal. Just like Edinburgh, many of these girls are against each other in the double sculls category.
Finally, a composite of Newark Rowing Club and Strathclyde park with Catriona Norval, Lauren Auchterlonie, Sophie Bonnor and Laura Bates. Catriona Moral has been trialing and will be a strong team member in this boat.
Women’s Doubles
For the double scull, Edinburgh University have two crews entered, both of these will be quick and are made of the girls who are in the quad together, Charlotte Cooper and Mia Freischem in one boat, Aerin Thompson and Isla McCallum in the other.
Next, an Aberdeen University BC and Robert Gordon University BC composite, with Morgan Nunez and Laura Stewart from the respective universities, will have had plenty of time training together and will be ready to take on the Scottish Championships.
Although St Andrews University did attend Scottish Spring Regatta, Isabella Checkley and Sarah Golding did not race in a double together, so this will be a first for them.
Finally, a composite of Newark Rowing Club and Strathclyde Park Rowing Club of Laura Bates and Catriona Norval, who is also doubling up into the single scull event.
Women’s Singles
For the women’s singles we have seven entries from Aberdeen Boat Club, Edinburgh University Boat Club, St Andrew’s University Boat Club, Strathclyde Park Rowing Club and Tideway Sculling School. Many of these scullers we have seen before and are racing in many other categories across the weekend.
For Aberdeen BC, we have Catriona Bain. She has represented Scotland for HIR multiple times spanning the years and also rowed in a composite eight with Newcastle and A.S.R. Nereus in the 2013 Henley Royal Regatta. She more recently came second in the women’s single at Scottish Spring Regatta and is aiming for Scotland selection for this year’s Home International Regatta (HIR).
Edinburgh University have two scullers entered Isobel Clements and Aerin Thompson. Isobel came a strong 62nd at November trials in her single and has represented Scotland before at HIR, she is looking again to representing Scotland this year. Aerin Thompson has previously medaled at various BUCS Regattas for Nottingham University as a lightweight, her current year at Edinburgh looks to be successful and she is hoping to join crew member Isobel at HIR representing Scotland.
Strathclyde is home to Strathclyde Park Rowing Club, who also have two athletes entered. Catriona Norval and Morven Thomson. Catriona came 78th at November trials, and impressively won the women’s single at Scottish Spring Regatta this year. Morven is currently an athlete out at Duke University. She won the women’s coxless four at National Schools’ Regatta in 2021, the junior coxed four at Henley Women’s Regatta, and more recently gained a silver at Coupe de la Jeunesse in the coxed four.
Predictions
For predictions, I believe Edinburgh University Boat Club will hold ground well at their home training waters for this coming weekend. Strathclyde Park also have some very strong contenders along with Aberdeen. With the weather looking calm and sunny, we wish you all the best of luck ladies!
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