When asked who the leading programs in UK junior rowing are, it is easy to reel off a list that also just happens to be some of the foremost schools in the country. Eton, Radley, King’s College Wimbledon, Westminster, St Paul’s, Headington, Lady Eleanor Holles, St Edward’s School – all top rowing academies but also institutions that command a hefty fee to even get in the front doors of the boathouses.
Money, though, is not everything. Glasgow Academy Rowing Club, who are based on the river Clyde, have been going punch-for-punch with some of the UK’s most prestigious programmes for over a decade now, under the careful tutelage of Iain Somerside. Henley Royal Regatta finals, national titles and international representation are just some of this remarkable group’s accolades, and with a promising crop of athletes currently operating out of Glasgow Green, the future looks just as bright as the past. Glasgow athletes have been rowing in Fluidesign shells for the past few years – an ambassadorship and partnership that Fluidesign are hugely proud of.
Somerside, who will leave the program as Director at the end of 2024, has been involved in rowing all his life, and his involvement at the Academy is a return to his roots, having started his career in Glasgow. After a stint supporting Rowing Scotland, Iain – whose children were attending the Academy – approached the school about starting a rowing club. “The first statement I had from the then-Headmaster was that rowing is really expensive,” remembered Iain. “I promised to try and keep the cost down as much as possible, which is an enduring principle of the program to this day. We started with four or five athletes back in 2008, and within a year, they were winning national medals and representing Scotland.”
In 2015, two of Iain’s athletes became junior world champions to cement Glasgow Academy as a leading provider of rowing talent globally. “We’re led by our athletes,” explained Iain. “Before Josh and Gavin (who won world championship gold in the quad) went off to Rio, I remember asking how much of rowing was physical, technical mental. They said 50% was physical, 30% was technical, and whatever was left was mental. After they won gold, they changed their thinking to indicate that mental focus and mindset was 70% of getting the right result. After that, we changed our program to focus more on mindset.”
Culture is a critical element of Iain’s program, ensuring that his athletes practice acceptance (physically and mentally), employ the right mindset (depending on if you’re fixed or growing) and place performance as the cornerstone of everything they do. “The fact that we have success in our program is great, but it’s not the only thing that gets me up in the morning,” said Iain. “We have many athletes who come back after years away and explain that the program has given them so much, personally and professionally and made them into better human beings. That is incredibly gratifying for me.”
Glasgow’s most successful export of late has been the prodigious Briony Wood. After collecting two successive National Schools’ Regatta titles – despite only just turning 16 – her sights are firmly set on representing Great Britain at the World Rowing Junior Championships. Briony rows a Fluidesign alongside the bulk of the rest of the squad, who also collected a silver medal in the girl’s championship pair at the most recent National Schools’ Regatta. “Briony was selected for the European Rowing Junior Championships earlier in the season, but her recurring injury played up, which ruled her out,” said Iain. “She has rowed all season a little way behind her best due to the injury, but 2025 will be a crucial season in her development.”
A boat club that is swelling like Glasgow needs a top fleet to support the ambitions of their squad. “We had a parent who was quite into engineering, and he told me to take a look at Fluidesign, who were doing good things on the other side of the pond,” said Iain. “The parent bought his daughter one of their shells, which moved so well in the water. Gavin came to see me and let me take some out on the water. They run well, they deal with any type of condition and for the money you pay for them, they are arguably the best in the business.”
“We raced our J16 girls – who were in a Fluidesign – against our J18 girls off the start – who were in a different boat – and the J16s took half a length in the opening ten strokes. That was interesting and gave me a good indication that the boat was one worth pursuing.”
Fluidesign UK is an ever-expanding presence across the country, and Iain was quick to note the support and service that the team has provided. “It’s a big thumbs up from me,” he concluded. “The kids like them too – I asked them to choose, and they all selected the Fluidesign. They rarely break or crack, but Gavin is quickly on hand to support when they do.”
As Iain steps down and passes the baton onto another who can take this exciting program forward, it will be one of the sport’s most rewarding narratives if Glasgow can continue to punch above their weight on the junior circuit. Fluidesign look forward to standing by their side for seasons to come.
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