Last week, Tay Rowing Club hosted our 2025 Junior Summer Camp — four days of rowing, learning, and fun on the River Tay.

Across the week, we welcomed eight juniors in total, with five in the morning group and three in the afternoon. Two of the participants returned from last year’s camp, and it was fantastic to see just how much they remembered — picking up where they left off and building on their skills with real confidence.

The juniors all made excellent progress over the course of the camp. From learning how to handle equipment safely and getting to grips with the basics, to refining their technique on the water, their confidence and ability grew with each session. It was great to see them working together, supporting each other, and enjoying the rhythm of the sport — and by the final day, they were putting it all into practice.

Of course, no camp would be complete without a bit of friendly competition, and we ended the week with a short race — which brought out plenty of enthusiasm and a healthy dose of competitive spirit!

The week brought a mix of Scottish summer weather — from flat calm conditions to the inevitable downpour — but spirits stayed high throughout. It was a brilliant opportunity for the juniors to get out on the water, build teamwork skills, and have fun in a safe and supportive environment.

We’re very grateful to Scottish Rowing for their funding support, which helped make the camp possible, and to the coaches Eilidh and William, who joined us from other clubs to deliver such high-quality sessions.

We’d also like to thank our own club members who helped make the camp run smoothly. A big thank you to Fiona, Dot, Peter, Clemmie, and Monica for giving up your time to support the juniors throughout the week. Thanks also to Dot for lending us the gazebo — it came in very handy! And behind the scenes, a special thanks to Lucy, our Club Captain, for coordinating the logistics, and to Tara, who managed bookings and communications to fill the camp.

Although we don’t currently have an ongoing junior section, we’re working towards being able to offer more opportunities in the future. If you have a teenager who might be interested in trying rowing, please get in touch or keep an eye on our social media for future updates.

Thank you again to everyone who made this year’s camp such a success — we hope it’s the start of more junior activity to come!

Limited Spaces – Booking Now Open

Looking for something active, exciting and confidence-building for the summer holidays? Our Junior Rowing Camp is back – and places are limited!

Running from 21st to 24th July, this 4-day camp is perfect for young people aged 12–18 who want to try something new, challenge themselves, and enjoy time on the water in a fun and supportive environment.

No rowing experience needed – just a willingness to get stuck in and a basic ability to swim.

Camp Details:
📅 Dates: Monday 21st – Thursday 24th July 2025
⏰ Choose either morning (9am–12pm) or afternoon (1pm–4pm) for all 4 days
👥 Just 6 spaces per session – only 12 spots in total
💷 £100 per person
📍 Tay Rowing Club, Perth PH2 8QJ
🎓 Funded places available (eligibility criteria apply)
🛟 Must be able to swim

Sessions include both land-based training and time on the water, all led by our qualified coaches. It’s a great way to build fitness, confidence, teamwork – and have fun outdoors during the summer break.

But there’s more:
Rowing is a standout sport on university applications – especially for students aiming high. Whether applying in the UK or abroad, rowing shows discipline, leadership and resilience. It’s a sport that opens doors.

💡 Interested? Don’t wait – places fill quickly every year.

👉 Book now by completing this short form:
https://form.jotform.com/251384525844361

Once we’ve received your form, we’ll confirm availability and send over payment details. Your space will be secured once payment is received.

Got a question? Just email us at comms@tayrowingclub.com

We can’t wait to welcome the next generation of rowers to the river this summer.

Race Report – O Nov 4+

In challenging conditions on the River Dee, the O Nov 4+ crew—Peter (Bow), Joel (2), Lewis (3), Becky (Stroke), and Lucy (Cox)—delivered an impressive performance. With temperatures averaging just 4°C, intermittent rain, and strong winds, the crew set off strongly, immediately overtaking the AUBC boat ahead just after the first bridge.

The race wasn’t without drama, as a collision with a junior quad from ASRA under the third bridge saw stroke side’s blades become tangled, briefly disrupting their momentum. However, they recovered quickly and powered on to secure victory in their category, crossing the line in 13:44.2 with a dominant lead of 1 minute 28.5 seconds.

On Saturday 7th September, Tay Rowing Club hosted a Rowing Taster Day, offering a great introduction to the sport for 15 eager participants of all ages. The session, designed for both beginners and those looking to get back into rowing, combined indoor and outdoor experiences to give everyone a feel for the sport.

The session started with some coaching on the indoor rowing machines, where attendees learned proper technique and tips to build endurance. After mastering the basics on the erg, participants hit the water, rowing singles on the scenic River Tay. Under the guidance of experienced coaches, they had the chance to put their new skills to the test in real boats.

There was a strong sense of excitement throughout the day, with many attendees expressing interest in taking their skills further. Tay Rowing Club encouraged participants to sign up for their Learn to Row course, set to begin next spring—a perfect opportunity to dive deeper into the sport and join the vibrant rowing community.

For those looking to take up rowing, Tay Rowing Club’s welcoming atmosphere and expert coaching make it a fantastic place to start!

At the end of June, our members participated in a long-distance ergathon to raise funds for the club. The event was a huge success, and we’d like to take this opportunity to thank friends, family, and the general public for their support. We also want to express our gratitude to every member who makes Tay RC the fantastic and welcoming club it is. 🚣‍♂️🙌

A few words from our Club Captain, Lucy;

What a day! Everyone really showed up to make the ergathon a massive success whether it was through putting miles into the ergs, collecting donations on the day, helping set up and set down, encouraging family and friends to donate online and generally being amazingly supportive of the whole event. We raised our full target amount and are now in the process of researching a suitable facility for extra storage and indoor training. The club is really fortunate to have 8 ergs and a small selection of other indoor equipment to complement our water training and continue to meet up in bad weather. It deserves a space of its own so that we can reclaim our welfare unit and disabled toilet. The money raised will therefore be invaluable for the continuing development of our members. It will also allow us to continue to grow and improve our annual Learn to Row course and Junior camp. Our Just Giving page is still open and will remain so for a few more weeks. Thank you to everyone who has donated so far, it means a lot and really will make a difference to the coaches and members of our club.

A few words from our Fundraising Officer, Thomas;

I’m so happy the Ergathon was such a success. The club came together brilliantly and really made sure the Ergathon was an effective fundraiser. It was brilliant to see the number of people who signed up across the club to do a stint, and I think our recent Learn To Row graduates impressed everyone with their effort and willingness to take part! Thanks to the efforts of everyone involved, we raised over £3000 for the club!
The day itself was perfect, the weather held, and it wasn’t too hot or too chilly! We had a brilliant location and were really very lucky to have had people finishing the park run and going on walks throughout the day as this really increased potential donations, and got more word out about our club!
I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who signed up to row, anyone who came along and supported, and everyone that helped organise and carry out the Ergathon to make it such a successful and fun day!

Get ready to cheer on our amazing Tay Rowing Club members as they take on a long-distance row at Bells Sports Centre, North Inch, Perth on Saturday, 29th June !
This Ergathon is not just a test of endurance and teamwork but also a fantastic opportunity to raise vital funds for our club. We need your support to keep our boats on the water and our community strong. 💪🌊
📅 **Date:** 29th June
🏟 **Venue:** Bells Sports Centre, North Inch, Perth
⏰ **Time:** All day event
Bring your family, friends, and plenty of enthusiasm to motivate our rowers as they power through the kilometres. Your presence and encouragement will mean the world to us!

Donations:  If you would like to donate, no matter how big or small, we’d be really grateful for your support.  Further details can be found on our Just Giving page at: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/tayergathon

Let’s make this event unforgettable. See you there! 🎉👊 #TayRowingClub #Ergathon #RowingForACause #CommunitySupport
P.S. We’ll be sharing our Just Giving link leading up to the event, and any donation, regardless of size, would be greatly appreciated!🙏
@tayrowingclub