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Last night we held the first "Trades Cup", where organisations or trades within the town race against each other.

The finals were a three way round robin, with teams representing Plumbers, Homeworkers, and North Berwick Rugby Club battling it out for the honours. The course was a sprint of around 750meters, with a 180 degree turn in the middle. The first round saw a very tight race between the Homeworkers and the Plumbers, with a Homeworker's crab caught at 50m allowing the Plumbers to pull away and take line honours. However in the second race the well drilled Rugby Club crew were able to establish a lead over the plumbers before the turn, which they built on in the second half of the race. In the final race, the Rugby Club again proved too strong for their opposition, although the Homeworkers put up a spitited row, and considerably improved upon their time for the first race.

The Trades Cup was therefore presented by Craig of the Auld Hoose, who kindly donated the trophy, to Susan Ferguson, Jason Logan, Russell Freer and Jo Thomson representing North Berwick Rugby Club.

Photos here

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Chippy McNish and St Baldred attended the flatwater Scottish Rowing Championships at Strathclyde Country Park, to show the St Ayles skiff to the sliding seat rowing community.  With most of the St Ayles fleet busy at Cockenzie and Port Seton Regatta, it was second boats from North Berwick and Royal West that attended.

The boats sat slightly lower in the fresh water, but with no waves, that did not really pose much of a problem.  The race was from the finish line of the Olympic standard course, up to the 250m mark, with a 180 degree starboard turn followed by a sprint back to the finish.  Our river racing friends were surprised at the turn of speed.  North Berwick borrowed a couple of slide seat rowers, and just managed to overhaul a gutsy young crew from Royal West, who promise much for the future.

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It was a regatta of two halves at Port Seton. Day one started brightly with our open men's crew getting off to a winning start in the first heat. The course was a harem scarem race around two buoys, completed in less than 2 minutes. Then the clouds gathered and North Berwick's fortunes went the same way as the weather, although the silver lining was the men's open crew progressing and winning their final.

Day two, and what a difference a day makes.  The sun shone and the sea sparkled.  North Berwick won the mixed open and and the mixed sculling - those extra holes in the boat were worth it, thanks Johnny and Willie.  The rower of the weekend must be Frazer, who was in all three winning crews, and the cox of the weekend has to be Jeannie, also in all the winning crews, and who managed to miss all the obstacles!

Port Seton hospitality was super as ever, with freshly caught mackerel on the barbie at today's presentation.

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Well done to the Anstruther away team who braved another very windy day at the Anstruther regatta.  Honours go to the Men's Open crew who stormed to victory in the first race of the day, bringing home the first trophy of this season.  The bravest crews of the day were certainly the ladies 35+ and ladies open crews who battled against strengthening winds and bigger and bigger waves, scoring memorable third and second places.

After that the races were moved into the (relative) shelter of the harbour, where the rowing was still less than easy.  The short sprints didn't play to our strengths however, and we couldn't repeat the successes of the morning, but we broke two tillers and an oar trying!  Buoy turn practice anyone...?

Thanks to Anstruther for a super and well organised day, and to the lifeboat crew who kept a close eye on the racers as the waves piled higher and higher!

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In testing conditions, the North Berwick rowers turned in a fine performance against nine other skiffs at Achiltibuie last weekend.  Overall honours went to Portobello, who seem to be setting the standard this year, then to Coigach. Full results haven't been announced, but by our reckoning we were third overall, coming third in the Men's open, and second in the Women's and Mixedover 40's, ahead of Port Seton and all three Ullapool crews! Anstruther andNewhaven were also there.

The weather wasn't optimal, (!!!), and the Sunday social row around the Summer Isles had to be cancelled, but Highland hospitality was abundant and a supertime was had by all.  Thanks to Coigach for putting on a super event, and a big WELL DONE to our windswept team: Frazer, Johnny, Maggie, Issy, Willie, Senga,Andy, Ted, Joanna and Clive.