Lockdown Mountain Climb
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We've already covered the meters from North Berwick to New York, and still got energy to burn so stick on your crampons, we're off on a hike of the world's biggest mountains.
Post your workout here
help us get there before end of lockdown.
Lockdown Crossing
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Well we rowed, cycled, and walked the 5,300,000 meters from North Berwick to New York to arrive and find we're still in lockdown, JFK is closed, and we're going to have to row back....but need some new shorts, so let's go to Bermuda next stop.
Christmas Ergo Relay 2019
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Now a firm fixture in the NBRC calendar, the 4th and biggest yet, Christmas ergo relay event took place in NB Scout Hall. 25 super excited participants, aged between 13 and 63, took part in finely balanced teams of 5, each person rowing 4 x 250m. How hard can that be - 45-60 seconds x 4?! Fast and furious, all important changeovers with varying degrees of perfection and each team boat tracked on a big screen thanks to Ian and the Concept 2 technology. Huge congrats to the winning team Craigleith - Clive R, Ann, Sam, Gareth and Jon. Inspired by our double Olympian guests, Rachel and Jon, the stars of the show and ones to watch for the future were our 2 juniors, JJ Wallace and Sam Cowan. Big shout has to go Vik as the biggest improver and Jon for agreeing to take part in his jeans and shoes with 2 minutes notice! Fantastic event and thanks and well done to everyone who took part. Merry Christmas!!!
Louise Presslie
Castle 2 Crane and Red Skiffies do Dragon Boat Racing
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Skiff John B made the rather long journey recently to take part in the amazing Castle 2 Crane for the third year running. Deposited by drivers Millie and Sam at Dumbarton Castle, ready to spend the night with 74 other boats. Predominantly skiffs but a few others too including wee sisters Flossie and Speedwell, pilot gigs and a super wee double skull from Broughty Ferry called Georgia.
Saturday dawned bright and with a forecast for a slight head wind, which we'd need to keep us cool. Millie, Sheena, Scott and Rob were my rowers. Bacon rolls and more coffee were enjoyed before our start place came about. Number 52 and we were off, 12 noon on the dot. Out to the first perch to turn up the Clyde. But wait, that wind is much stronger and my goodness the white tops and waves. The pushing started.
It took us 58 minutes to get the Erskine bridge, such a slog. We'd overtaken a good handful of boats already. Water taken on and a few wee snacks but no stopping for my awesome crew. Up through into the city concentration and loads of encouraging chat. Some great moments of laughter with misheard chat, not like Scott, ....the safety boat actually came over to make sure we were ok as we were all in stitches...it did lighten the load....
So 2 hours in, coming past Braehead shopping centre I can see the top of the masts of the Glenlee. There was a lot of groaning in pain, then back to focusing on catches and relaxing forward. The stroke was long, slow and damn strong, on the last stretch towards the finish we reeled in about ten skiffs. How were we managing it? The momentum kept coming, we caught St Baldred just at the BBC building to cross the line at Finnieston in 2 hours 45 mins. What a row! We drifted a lot of the way back to the retrieval slip, tired, but so chuffed too. It was not easy to get out into a standing position. Blister checking....ouchy.
Huge congratulations and 6th place in the open mixed category, so amazingly fought.
An excellent festival followed with toe tapping music. Clydebuilt put on a really interesting array of stalls and the food and bar were well attended. The last three standing or dancing at the ceilidh were Vik, Ann and myself, much to our delight. We knew what we were doing was helping along the gig rowers. What a fabulous day.
Sunday dawned. Good grief, what happened to the weather? Thunder boomed overhead and boy does it know how to rain through West.
Red skiffies were not looking very cheery, supporting blisters, bruised and tired, and now soaking. Dragon Boat racing, whose flaming idea was that?
Vik, Ann, Sheena, Lou, Laura, Dave and myself were joined by Arran skiffies David, Emma, Steve, Cil ( who'd even dyed her hair red for the event much to Steve's disgust) Fritz, encouraged by a poorly Stuart. Our Broughty pals, Liz and Kate finished up our crew. Like drowned rats we were trussed up in buoyancy aids, handed little paddles, given some tips, the main one being "no capsizing", and we were off.
Nine teams took part, some very fit looking, one certainly had done it before. Three dragons at a time paddled the 160 m alongside the Glenlee. Our first race took 85 seconds, and left us even more soaked....we swapped about as we only had ten paddlers at once and with a drummer for beat on stroke too. Lou and Laura looked really great holding on tight with their thighs on a really precarious seat in bow. Our times got better with every heat. The slowest of the three was taken out and the other two added together. And we were in fourth place - YEEHA!, the sun was coming out, folk were enjoying it, and smiling too, crowds were shouting, what a great afternoon.
The semi finals saw some poaching of team members to help Ben (organiser of Castle 2 Crane), beaten by a second, by red skiffies. OMG!, into the final! Tactics were formulated, seating, best stroke, beater, and then the tension as logs were removed from the race area. And they're off, and gosh there wasn't much in it at all. Great battles, more friends made, and such a great crew! A fantastic event highly recommend to others for next year.
The journey home was thankfully a lot quicker with baths and early beds at the end of it.Here's to next year, thank you to all the volunteers and organisers, and to the towers too. An oarsome weekend.
Jacque Turner
North Berwick Regatta 2019
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The North Berwick coastal skiff rowing regatta 2019 – the best yet!
What a day - wall to wall sunshine and not a breath of wind - conditions could not have been better.
There was an early start with a 7 o’clock meet to get the ribs out to lay the buoys and check that there were no creel lines that could snag the boats. Clive and Finlay were already looking a bit overdressed in dry suits.
So what were the highlights of the day? A few things really stand out.
One of my personal highlights of the day was the opportunity to help out on the water with Finlay Robertson showing me the ropes on the rib. I had absolutely no idea what we were doing but (I think) I managed to look quite officious and had a blast zooming around the Craig. Thanks Finlay maybe next year I’ll be semi-helpful.
So what else is worthy of a mention? Well the catering must be talked about. Meg, Ann and the team did a wonderful job. The catering was terrific throughout the day, and, of course, is such an important fundraiser for the club. The standard of catering was quite outstanding. Pretty early on I concluded that my cheese and pickle rolls were okay but they didn’t really compare to my favourite role of the day. This was humus and sun-dried tomato on a freshly home-made sourdough roll – outstanding.
A review of the day would not be complete without a mention of Messers Baird and Rooney on the tannoy. Their inane ramblings were quite wonderful entertainment and I understand the new weekly podcast will be coming out later in the year.
So what about the rowing ? Lots and lots of terrific rowing in wonderful conditions with some really fast times. All races were keenly contested and it was great to see a spread of medals across all the clubs.
At the end of the day we all gathered for a cold beer on the beach and a chance to listen to one of Sandy’s monologues - which never disappoints. All the medal winners were delighted with their unique medals (way to go Milly) which were a terrific memento of a wonderful day on and off the water.
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