NORTH Berwick Rowing Club is toasting another successful regatta as a record number of clubs took part.
Its 13th regatta was held on August 26, when clubs from all over Scotland visited the town.
Nineteen clubs took part in a number of categories that saw skiffs race from the harbour to Craigleith and back.
Conditions were variable throughout the day, with the morning bringing lots of wind and choppy seas, so the course was altered to a 3km triangle from the Old Pier to the west of Craigleith, along in front of the island and back to the Old Pier.
By mid afternoon, the calm waters returned and the competition was able to revert to the classic course around Craigleith.
Due to the high volume of entries, crews set off in two waves, and the crew with the fastest time across the two heats won.
Racing started with the 45-plus age categories, North Berwick claiming the first gold medals of the day in the men’s and women’s categories.
Next up was the juniors where North Berwick claimed gold in the under 18s.
The under 15s’ race saw Eastern, from Portobello, take first place, with North Berwick second and a second Ullapool in third.
First place followed in the mixed decades category for Ullapool, while the mixed open was claimed by Golspie.
The novice race, for rowers in their first year of rowing or for those who had not won a medal before, was won by Eskmuthe, from Musselburgh.
In the afternoon, the old ‘salty sea dogs’ had their chance in the 240-plus race, in which the ages of the four rowers had to total 240 or more. St Ayles, from Anstruther, took gold.
The mixed 45-plus category then saw Wormit win gold.
The marquee events are the men’s and women’s open categories, and winners claim overall club dominance. In the fastest time of the day round the rock, Eastern stormed ahead, claiming the men’s title with a 29-second lead.
In the final race of the day, North Berwick ladies crew came in first place.
Millie Lowe, ladies’ captain, said: “We would like to thank all the volunteers and organisers who made the day such a success.
“Thank you to our sponsors, Anne Baird & Co, NB Pharmacy, North Berwick Harbour Trust, The Seabird Centre, The Nether Abbey Hotel, Earth Squared, Lyndsay Henderson Personal Training, The Lobster Shack, The Rocketeer and Fenton Tower.
“We were delighted to see such a broad range of clubs winning medals. Coastal rowing is growing in popularity year on year, with new clubs popping up all the time.”
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