Helmsdale rowers tackle top teams as new season begins
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The first competition of the new coastal rowing season took place in Achiltibuie at the weekend and the Bunillidh Rowing Club from Helmsdale were keen to know how well their winter training had gone.
Thirteen boats lined up for a full day of racing on Saturday, including three of the top teams in the country and the current world champions.
Helmsdale need not have worried, as they came away well satisfied.
There were improvements across the board – the men’s over-40s team set a personal best time of 5mins 58 secs for the 1km course.
The mixed open team (Cerri Williams-Shale, Lucy Fraser, Duncan Mackay and Olly Metzger) and the mixed over-50s (Andy and Fiona Sutherland, Jean Sargent and Tommy Macaulay) both finished second in their respective races.
All of the events were closely fought, with only a few seconds between the first four of five boats in each race.
Garry Smith, the club treasurer, said: “The margins between the top boats are becoming a lot smaller, with the final placing coming right down to the line.
“The whole weekend was great with fantastic Highland hospitality on show from the Coigach Rowing Club.”
The event was won by a team from North Berwick, with Helmsdale coming 4th overall out of the 13 teams competing. A race victory still eludes Helmsdale but it is getting much closer and is only a matter of time, practice and determination.
Golspie is now involved in Scottish coastal rowing and the team has ordered a boat which will be built by a group of locals later this year. Hopefully this will start healthy competition between the two east Sutherland villages.
This will add to the other new northern boats from Wick, Lochinver, Avoch, Fortrose and Ardersier.
The list of places and level of interest is growing all the time.
Bunillidh Rowing Club is always looking for new members and anyone interested or who wants more information should contact Garry Smith 01431 821712.
