ROWING clubs from across East Lothian flourished at the Skiffie World Championships.

About 700 crews from 57 clubs from across the world took to the water at Loch Ryan, off Stranraer.

Crews from as far afield as France, Holland, USA, Canada and Tasmania took part in the competition, with North Berwick Rowing Club, Dunbar Coastal Rowing Club, Eskmuthe Rowing Club of Musselburgh, and Boatie Blest – Cockenzie and Port Seton Community Coastal Rowing Club flying the flag for East Lothian.

And there was plenty to celebrate, with three of the four clubs returning home with medals and all reaching finals at the competition.

Thirty-five of North Berwick Rowing Club’s 80 members attended the six-day competition, which took place earlier this month.

Day one of the championships saw the women’s 60-plus years crew earning a bronze medal, one which was presented to them by The Princess Royal.

The under 40s’ men were also successful in winning bronze in their competition.

The 60-plus men and under 40s’ women were also in action on day one and made it to their finals.

Day two saw the 40-plus men and 40-plus ladies competing, with both teams making it through to their finals.

The 40-plus men received a bronze medal, being beaten by two really strong Irish teams, and the 40-plus ladies also received a bronze medal.

By the end of the competition, every team North Berwick Rowing Club entered made it through to their respective finals.

Their mixed 40-plus team came away with a silver medal.

A spokesman for the club said: “All competitors were a credit to their club, competing with grit and motivation, determined that the winter training would ensure success.”

The club finished the competition in fourth place overall.

Meanwhile, there was medal success for a team from Dunbar as well, with the club taking second in the 280-plus combined age category.

The name of the category relates to the total age of the rowers and Dunbar’s senior rowers were the husband-and-wife pairings of George and Myra Johnstone and Alistair and Di Mackie, with Kenny Maule as cox.

Meanwhile, Boatie Blest also had reason to celebrate as they reached 11 finals and took first place in the 40-plus mixed and open women’s finals, as well as second in the 40-plus women’s final.

Finally, Eskmuthe were also at the competition with their boat Steedie Falconer.

The rowers took part in 14 different races, reaching the final of the under-40s men’s (12th), 40-plus women’s final (15th), the 50-plus mixed final (13th), and the open women’s final (14th).

Georgina Brown, club captain, said: “We had worked very hard in training beforehand but there are a lot of very strong and competitive coastal rowing clubs, so we were delighted to do so well.

“Eskmuthe has always put the focus on enjoyment and social rowing but we have proved we can marry that with being competitive too.”

Gaynor Allen, club chairman, added: “We didn’t know what to expect but we had an absolutely fantastic week – we had a huge amount of fun, while engaging in fierce competition on the water.”

The club is offering taster sessions as part of Fisherrow Fun Day on Sunday between 11am and 1pm on the Back Sands and joining a row to Inchcolm Island with other clubs, starting out from Kinghorn in Fife.

The Skiffie World Championships take place every three years.