A POPULAR rowing regatta made its grand return to Port Seton Harbour at the weekend, for the first time in two years.

Saturday saw the return of the Boatie Blest Cockenzie and Port Seton Coastal Rowing Club Regatta, with nine clubs, including from as far afield as Anstruther, Greenock and Troon, taking part.

The morning kicked off in style with a traditional Cockenzie versus Port Seton race around the harbour, with Port Seton lifting the title.

Seven further racing categories followed, with each team racing once in a head-to-head race, then the two fastest teams competing in the final.

Host club Boatie Blest finished first in the men’s open and second in the open mixed.

The other winners were as follows:

  • Cockenzie vs Port Seton: 1st Port Seton
  • Open Mixed: 1st Anstruther, 2nd Boatie Blest
  • Open Men: 1st Boatie Blest, 2nd North Berwick
  • Open Women: 1st North Berwick, 2nd Anstruther
  • Men’s Novice: 1st Royal West, 2nd Boatie Blest
  • Women’s Novice: 1st Anstruther, 2nd Eastern
  • Mixed 40+: 1st North Berwick, 2nd Boatie Blest
  • Mixed 50+: 1st Troon, 2nd Anstruther

Alison Brown, Boatie Blest chairperson, said: “The regatta was cancelled the last two years because of Covid so it was great to see so many people from the local community coming out to support the event and watch the racing.”

David Trundle, captain of Boatie Blest, added: “I would like to thank everyone in the Boatie family for all their help in making the regatta such a success.

“From timekeeping, umpiring, baking, running the tea tent, the sound and announcements, everything went very much to plan.

“The feedback from the other clubs has been fantastic and we really enjoyed reconnecting with the wider coastal rowing community and saw some fantastic, exciting racing.

“If anyone would like to find out more about what we do they can check out our website boatieblest.org.uk or find us on Facebook.”