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 Feb 1st, Tay went to the Clyde. We had planned to enter the GRC head the week before, but both the weather and low entries meant that it was cancelled. Given that disappointment, the SUBC head was a nice chance to get an extra race in before Aberdeen and Inverness.
We entered two events: the O R2 1x in Div 1 (Lewis) and the O R2 2x in Div 2 (Lewis and Peter). This was largely thanks to the generosity of SUBC who lent us the boats and blades.
O R2 1x Report, by Lewis
After a quick warm up and some adjustments on the row up to the start I was feeling in the zone for a good race. The category had a few rowers I have competed against in the past so I knew I was up against some tough competition. After a quick start off the line I settled into a strong pace and held on for the next 2km. After holding a good line round the last few bends I primed myself for a big push for the finish, lifting the rate and focusing in, before emptying the tank in the last few hundred meters.
I was very happy with the performance and significantly improved on my time from last racing on the Clyde. While the medal remained beyond my reach the race was a great experience and a good launching point for the races to come later this year
O R2 2x Report, by Peter
R2 wouldn’t be my first choice, but Lewis has sculling points so novice categories are out. The draw didn’t help us either. Since no one else entered our category, we got bumped up to the O 2x! Prospects looked poor.
After I slipped on the steps launching the boat (ow, by the way), we had a leisurely row up to the start line. This is maybe a good time to note that the last time Lewis and I tried a double was about 3 months ago, so I found this row up to the start very helpful.
When we got called to start, we set off at a steady rate. We kept that rate as we went through the build and put a little more power in as we crossed the start. It was a smooth beginning, the boat felt settled. As we got going I saw a 4+ setting off behind us, and thought “well we’re going to get passed by them at some point”. But, a little after the second bridge they remained well behind us and, instead, Lewis called that we were about to pass a boat on our left. That was a call I didn’t expect to hear.
Unfortunately, this other boat took the middle channel at the next bridge and, in an effort to avoid them, we caught a crab. We recovered in a few strokes and finished the overtake. At the next straight we had a power 10 which left us approaching the 4th bridge, which is about 500m from the finish. We rounded the last corner and began our push as we passed under the last bridge.
The finish felt strong and we completed the course in 9:48. This still left us last of three in the O 2x, but we did overtake a 4x and hold off a 4+, which seems alright for a scratch double.
On Friday afternoon, 8th November, our excited crew had a leisurely drive up to Inverness as Lucy, our Cox, Captain & Coach very kindly took up the trailer with the boats & the rest of the kit (we won’t mention the Sweep blades that got left behind!).
After a good old scoff of carbs at an Italian Restaurant in town we got an early night, ready for an early morning start.
We ate our Tesco’s bought breakfast in the carpark at 6.45am, as the Premier Inn’s breakfast didn’t start as early as us!
A chilly morning saw us fumbling around in the semi-daylight to get ‘Old Slapper’ rigged up. The Porta loos not being unlocked very early caused an anxious, lengthy queue which made a very tight turnaround to get shifted & the boat on the water for 8.05am!
As the sun rose & the early morning mist lifted above the water, we had a lovely row up to the start. Given that my Crew Mates had never raced before, they all seemed fairly jovial & unphased by it all. In 2021 I had been in the same position as Morgan, with this being my first ever race after completing the Learn to Row course that year. She didn’t seem half as nervous as I felt that day but maybe she just hid it well!
The race seemed to go pretty much to plan with no hiccups encountered as the other two races of my rowing career have! I was chuffed to finish the race with no dramas! Given that we were the only non-Uni Crew in our event, we were delighted to have beaten one of them!!
Now we know what to expect, we’re all keen to work on improving our next performance.
Many thanks to Glasgow Uni for lending us the blades (It’s good to have connections – i.e. Heather’s Brother!).
A huge Thank You to Lucy for all her coaching, coxing, organising, time, trailering & support. Also to Heather, Paige & Thomas for their helping hands, photography & support.
It was a beautiful sunny day (bit different to 2021) & we all had a very enjoyable time, thank you Inverness Rowing Club. .
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
The River Tay Community Sports Hub are inviting all residents of Perth & Kinross to join them on Sunday 5th May, 2024 at high tide from 1.30pm to our ‘Between the Bridges’ Event.
Visitors to the event, our second event of this kind for the Hub, can see everything that happens on the Tay, and learn more about how they can get involved.
The River Tay Community Sports HUB is a collective group of Perth and Kinross water based sports clubs along with Perth Harbour, Willowgate Activity Centre and Sea Cadets. The HUB is facilitated by dedicated Live Active Leisure Sports Development Officer, Stevie Baxter. The HUB’s aim is to bring together sports clubs and community organisations who want to develop and grow the sporting offer on and around the River Tay. There will be paddling, kayaking, canoeing, sailing and wild water swimming all on the Tay together at high tide at 1:30pm, with an information point set up by the clubs and organisations involved, all on the High Street/Tay Street viewing platform. This year will also see the local fire brigade attend with a fire engine, the stations boat and trailer will also be in attendance where the staff from the station will be providing water safety information and some do’s and dont’s of the river.
Tay Rowing Club will also add some challenging fun to the event where there will be some indoor rowing machines on land where locals can try and row as fast as they can over a set distance, with the quickest individual on the day winning a prize.
Stevie Baxter, Sports Development Officer from Live Active Leisure, told us:
All of the clubs and people that are involved with the River Tay are so passionate about the water and we would like to share both the physical and mental benefits of being out on the water safely can do for any individual no matter if that is in the water as a swimmer or on a boat or canoe, we really do have something for everyone on the River Tay. The setting for the event is on a beautiful stretch of the river between the Queens & Smeatons bridges and want to showcase the sports and the camaraderie between clubs that share the river.
We would like to invite anyone interested in getting involved in any way with the river, to come along and spend time learning about the opportunities – for all ages and all abilities.”
In addition to learning about new club opportunities, there is also advice on using the river safely.
As the summer holidays get underway, the Hub are keen to share their invaluable website resource to inform and educate users on the dangers of using rivers as well as a signpost to clubs and organisations that use the river for their activities, with key safety information included for activities that have become popular since the pandemic, such as outdoor swimming, stand up paddle boarding and jet skiing.
Ready to shake up this summer? If your teenager loves staying active and craves new experiences, we’ve got the perfect plan for them! 🌟 Introducing our 4-day Junior Rowing Camp, tailored for secondary school pupils aged 12 to 18. 🌊
📅 When: July 29th – August 1st, 2024 📍 Where: Tay Rowing Club, Perth (PH2 8QJ)
🔥 What’s on the Agenda:
Expert Coaching: Our seasoned coaches will guide your teen through every stroke, both on and off the water. 🚣♂️
River Tay Adventures: Imagine the thrill of rowing along the breathtaking River Tay. 🌿
Limited Spots: Hurry, spaces are filling up faster than you can say “stroke”! 🏃♀️ Reserve your teen’s spot now.
How to Book: Simply shoot us an email at comms@tayrowingclub.com to secure their place.
Don’t miss out on this chance for your teen to have an unforgettable summer filled with fun and learning! Spread the word among their friends and let’s make this summer one to remember! 🌞🌊
Contract: 28 hours (freelance) (29th July-1st August 2024)
Location: Tay Rowing Club, PH2 8QJ
Salary: £12.75/hr
Responsible to: Project Co-ordinator
Tay Rowing Club (SCIO) is a charity and local sports group which aims to positively impact the lives in the Tayside community through the promotion of a range of accessible, affordable, and sustainable opportunities for local young people (and on occasion the wider community) to participate, coach, or volunteer in rowing and physical activity related opportunities on the River Tay.
Tay Rowing Club junior programme is supported by Scottish Rowing, the governing body for the sport of Rowing in Scotland and is assisted by a range of local partners to deliver this activity. In this exciting role, the successful post holder will have responsibility for the co-ordination and delivery of rowing coaching for the duration of this 4-day junior rowing camp on the River Tay. The post will include working with children and young people from various communities in the Tayside region.
We are seeking a dedicated, driven, and motivated individual who will be inspired to work for a charity whose aim is to inspire local young people from the Tayside area to take part and sustain their participation in rowing. Our candidate will share the view that sport has the power to change lives.
Job Description
The Coach will report to the Project Co-ordinator of Tay Rowing Club and will be responsible for delivering rowing coaching both on and off the water (on rowing machines and in rowing boats) with support from sessional and volunteer coaches. A syllabus for the 4-day junior camp will be provided.
Key responsibilities will include:
• To support the Project Co-ordinator by leading the delivery of water sports activities for children and young people.
• To support the Project Co-ordinator to promote community leadership and active
participation of the Tay Rowing Club Junior Camp whilst being a positive role model.
• To support the Project Co-ordinator to complete and provide regular monitoring and
evaluation as and when required.
• The post will require working hours of 9am-4pm on the 29th of July- 1st of August. 28hours total.
Additional responsibilities
• To respect the rights of all participants and ensure that their well-being and safety are
always paramount.
• The ability to adapt sessions to cater for various levels of age & ability and ensure all
sessions are participant centred.
• To ensure that all activities are delivered in line with Scottish Governing Body policies and
procedures, particularly Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy, Water Safety and
Coaches Code of Conduct.
• To inspect all sports and activity equipment prior to and after session to ensure safe to
use and report defective equipment to the relevant organisation for repair.
Tay Rowing Club is committed to selecting staff solely based on their ability to do the job for which they are being recruited and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
This successful candidate MUST
• Hold a rowing coaching qualification
• Hold a qualification and/or have demonstrable experience in water safety (e.g., FSRT
and Cold Immersion/Capsize training etc).
• Have experience delivering safe water sports sessions
The successful candidate will be appointed subject to membership of the PVG Scheme.
Application Process:
Applicant to submit application form via: https://form.jotform.com/240915844289366
Applications for this position by Friday 26th April 2024
Interviews will be held from May 2024
For more information contact Heather McKenzie on safety@tayrowingclub.com
As we reflect on the past few months since our Annual General Meeting (AGM), it’s an opportune moment to extend a warm welcome to the dedicated members of the new committee for 2024. Their proactive approach has set a positive tone already, as they’ve delved into tasks such as boat maintenance, container organisation, and expanding the capacity for our upcoming learn-to-row course starting in April.
The fresh committee has been putting in commendable efforts to ensure the club is in optimal condition for the upcoming season. We’re enthusiastic about their future contributions and invite you to stay tuned for more updates on the exciting progress of our club!
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