Apologies for the late posting of this article, but your correspondent went on holiday very soon after the event, and is only just back.
The weekend of 9th-12th July was particularly busy at the Club. We had a rowing regatta on the Saturday as well as a large party of visiting Sea Kayakers using the Club as a base to visit the Tall Ships Event. On the Sunday there was a club trip to the Tall Ships Event and on the Tuesday the Tall Ships Event came to us by way of the Red Arrows and the Parade of Sail.
The regatta on the Saturday involved North Berwick RC and St.Ayles RC from Anstruther as well as crews from Royal West. There was racing in the new St.Ayles Skiffs and the Club’s Pairs. The racing started at 11:00 and ran all through the day until approx 16:00. The results are as follows:
• Men’s 45+ Skiff, North Berwick (Sponsor Ian & Susie Clark)
• Junior Pairs, Royal West (Kane) (Sponsor Graham Family)
• Women’s Pairs, North Berwick/St.Ayles Composite (Sponsor Insight Travel)
• Mixed 50+ Skiff, St.Ayles RC (Sponsor Ian & Susie Clark)
• Men’s Open Skiff, Royal West (Graham) (Sponsor React Catering Services)
• Women’s Open Skiff, St.Ayles RC (Sponsor React Catering Services)
• Men’s Pairs, Royal West (Graham) (Sponsor Insight Travel)
• Mixed Open Skiffs, North Berwick (Sponsor M&J Timber)
As can been seen from the above table there was a good spread of wins amongst the three clubs attending. The Junior Pairs event was particularly important as it was contended for by two crews from Royal West that have been rowing since the start of the season and consists of 10-11 year olds. This is a very good sign for the Club as they turn up each week for instruction and are involved kayaking, rowing and generally in all aspects of the club.
The other thing that is very apparent from the table above is the importance of the sponsors. We were lucky enough to receive practical and financial support from those listed above for which we are very thankful. Another huge thank you goes to the support from members, family and friends on the day with things like umpiring, catering, rescue boat and general help. Without everyone mucking in it would not have been such a success.
Following the prize giving a dinner was laid on for those involved during the day. This started the social interaction between clubs that continued into the early hours of the morning at the dance. The dance was very well attended with visitors from the East (North Berwick), West (Toronto), North (Falkirk) and South (Normandy).
For those still able there was a trip to the Tall Ships in the Great Harbour on the Sunday. The fleet left from the Club around 11:00 and included 4no St.Ayles Skiffs, 1no Heavy Four, the clubs rescue boat (with a photographer from the Greenock Telegraph) and the 45ft yacht Braveheart from Anstruther that had sailed over for the regatta. There was racing on the way to and within the Great Harbour. There was also a change of crews in the Great Harbour before a choppy trip back to the club. At the club we fed the visitors again before helping them load boats for their trip home. All left happy and exhausted from a very busy weekend.
The Club’s weekend was not over however. On the Tuesday the club opened in the late morning for members and guests to watch the Red Arrows display. The Parade of Sail then moved past the club during the afternoon. A big thank you is due to Paddy Rodden & Ewen Chisholm for their work on the Tuesday in the bar. They even worked right through the cash register breaking down mid afternoon.
The success of the weekend shows what this club can do when it all pulls together (pardon the pun).