As ever, if you wish to take part in any of these rowing slots, please email me directly on mikebreewood@gmail.com.
Louise coxes a crew on a row to Inchcolm and back on 30 June – “Easy row for us there 1hr 25mins. A lovely picnic and easy row back 1hr 30 mins,” writes Rachel, seen here in stroke.
Club captain Dónal writes: It is with regret that I have to bring you this news, but unfortunately after consultation between the Committee and the Regatta Sub Committee it has been decided to cancel this year’s Regatta on 22 August.
We weighed up the factors that are involved, and due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Covid it would not be feasible to have a regatta. Our biggest issue was the numbers of rowers that would attend, along with the crowds that would already be in Port Edgar on the day. We would also not have been able to use the shed as we have done in the past.
It was also felt that we need to focus on our own Club in the short term and get rowing back to some kind of normality. Hopefully the easing of restrictions that are due to come towards the end of next month will help us do that.
However, we do intend to have a very small Youth event in the form of a return fixture with North Berwick and Eastern, following last week’s successful event. As the rules pertaining to youth rowers are more flexible, it was felt this would be the best option. The provisional date is 22 August, and will be a row in company with a route yet to be finalised.
QRC’s Youth Regatta in 2019 attracted crews from all over Scotland, and from Northern Ireland
Sadly ours is not the only fixture to be cancelled this summer: We have received word that Shieldaig’s Regatta on the weekend of August 7th and 8th has been cancelled. The organisers cited the uncertainty around the Pandemic as the reason for cancelling.
They have pencilled in August 6th and 7th 2022 for next year’s Regatta. I know many of you had bookings made for accommodation in Shieldaig, I hope this gives you enough time to cancel if you so wish.
The Maid at Shieldaig in 2018. Photo by Christine Thomson
On Sunday 20 June, seven of QRC’s youth rowers Oisin, Aaron, Diarmuid, Susan, Georgina, Will and Archie accepted an invitation from North Berwick to row with them, and Eastern. This is the report from NB’s Claire Simpson, one of the chief organisers, with a few thanks at the end to those in QRC who helped make the trip possible.
Photo courtesy of NBRC
Junior Muster June 2021
Achieving the impressive task of mustering twenty-six teenagers on the beach by 10.00am on a Sunday morning was just the start of a fantastic day which marked a welcome return to inter-club rowing.
Eastern Amateur Rowing Club and South Queensferry travelled to our beautiful coastal waters in North Berwick to venture round the island of Craigleith in Enid Blyton style and take part in mini sprints round the bay.
Photo by Lorna Bark
The row in company saw five boats disappear round the harbour wall, the most skiffs seen together in North Berwick for over a year. Lizzie Cowan, from NBRC, who coxed a mixed club crew of girls thought she might need to fill in some awkward gaps in the conversation but her worries were unfounded when the girls readily chatted across a diverse set of topics including mascara, kittens and algebra during their row.
Photo by Louise Innes
On returning to shore the junior rowers took on some refreshments, generously provided by the NBRC’s club mates, and studied the crew lists for the sprint course set up by North Berwick’s Robbie Wightman and Dave Davidson.
The girls went out first and Eastern’s crew showed their power and rowing style which gave them the advantage for a win against a North Berwick/South Queensferry mix. North Berwick’s older boys came out with the fastest time of the day in the next set of races with all three crews discovering how buoy turns work for the first time. The final races of the day saw NBRC younger boys coxed by Jacque Turner take the win over a South Queensferry/Eastern mixed crew that included some of the youngest rowers to take part.
Photo by Lorna Bark
The effort and determination of every crew was a delight to see and they were rewarded with a burst of sunshine during further refreshments and presentation of the beautiful medals made by the very creative Cowan family. Taking home your first coastal rowing medal is a memory to cherish.
Everyone agreed it was a delight to be back mixing with other clubs and seeing so many young people, the future of our clubs, leading the way.
This is our normal.
Claire Simpson, North Berwick Rowing Club
Photo by Lorna Bark
Marianne adds a few QRC thanks
Thanks for everyone who helped make this day happen.
Firstly, to North Berwick for their invitation, hospitality and organisation. It was a wonderfully joyful day where the sun shone, seas were calm and there were plenty of puffins! Thank you to both North Berwick and Eastern for your friendship.
Thanks to Len and Douglas for sorting out the road trailer and making it possible for us to treat Ferry Maid to a day out! To Paul McVeigh for towing her safely there. To Louise, Rachel and Peter for their continued support for youth rowing, and to Louise and Rachel for coxing on the day. To Dónal for working with me on the organisation. To the parents who support our young rowers!
And finally, thank you to our fabulous youth rowers, Diarmuid, Will, Susan, Archie, Georgina, Oisín and Aaron, who proved they are up for anything, and represented our club so positively.
Photo by Lorna Bark
We are lucky to have you, and we hope you enjoyed your day as much as we all did!
Dónal writes: As Mike said, the Tides are against us for our usual timings.
Last night’s Midsummer Night’s Row failed to happen as the rain was coming down fairly heavily at the time. It wouldn’t have been very enjoyable if we had gone out.
Monday 21st June 0559— 1.7 m L. 1217 — 5.3 m H. 1844 – 1.2 m L.
Tuesday 22nd June 0659 — 1.4m L 1317 — 5.5 m H 1942 — 1.0 m L.
Wednesday 23rd June 0803 — 1.2m L 1415 — 5.7 m H. 2039 — 0.9 m L.
Thursday 24th June 0905 — 0.9 m L 1513 — 5.8 m H. 2131 — 0.8 m L
Friday 25th June 1000 — 0.7 m L. 1608 — 5.9 m H. 2217 — 0.8 m L.
Saturday 26th June 1050 — 0.6 m L. 1700 — 5.9 m H. 2259 — 0.9 m L.
Sunday 27th June 1137 – 0.6 m L. 1751 — 5.8 m H. 2339 — 1.1 m L
Queensferry youth members at North Berwick’s Junior Muster at the weekend. Photo by Lorna Bark
Mike B writes: The times for social rowing next week are fairly constricted I am afraid.
The earliest evening row next week will be on Friday the 25th of June and there is only enough water for one rowing slot. The Saturday social rowing can’t begin until 12:00.
The slots for next week are:
Friday the 25th of June: 18:00 – 20:00, General rowers, Ferry Maid Saturday the 26th of June: 12:00 – 14:00, Limited Exposure rowers, Ferry Maid; 12:45 – 14:45, Shielding rowers, Ferry Lass; 15:45 – 17:45, General rowers, Ferry Maid Sunday the 27th of June: 13:00 – 15:00, Youth rowing, Ferry Maid; 13:45 – 15:45, General rowers, Ferry Lass; 16:00 – 18:00, Limited Exposure rowers, Ferry Maid; 16:45 – 18:45, Shielding rowers, Ferry Lass.
I am sorry that these times are a bit awkward – but the following week the tides are much better for our normal evening and weekend rowing, so something to look forward to.
Remember to email me directly on mikebreewood@gmail.com to book a place in any rowing slot!
Another blast from summers past: The fleet arrives on Inchcolm after rowing from Kinghorn on 10 June 2018. Photo by Vicki Locke
