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• Roy Sinclair

In sunny, very cold and almost windless weather conditions, a record number of over 550 crews from all over Scotland took part in the R J McLeod Inverness Fours/Quads and Small Boats Heads on Saturday and Sunday 9th and 10th November on the superb rowing waters of the Caledonian Canal in Inverness over a course of approximately 4500 metres from Dochgarroch to the Inverness Rowing Club’s Boathouse close to the Tomnahurich Swing Bridge. All crews raced over the full length course with the exception of Novice and the younger Junior 14/15 crews which raced over a slightly shorter course length of approximately 3500 metres.

Much excellent racing was witnessed on both days of the regatta with the host club winning the Women’s Restricted 2 Double Sculls (Laura Evans-Smith and Sarah Brennan) on Sunday. Edinburgh University BC, classified as a sub-division of GB Rowing boated some crews with athletes of national and international status and were the club which won the most events during the course of the two day regatta and in doing so achieved an overall win claiming the Victor Ludorm prize and the traditional mounted set of antlers.

In the Fours/Quads events, the fastest men's fours crew of the weekend was the Edinburgh University BC Open Quad Scull (James Temple) in a time of 14 minutes 49.37 seconds. The fastest women's crew was the Edinburgh University BC Open Quad Scull (Jane Hardie) in a time of 16 minutes 49.02 seconds.

In the Small Boats events, fastest men’s crew was the Edinburgh University BC Open Double Scull (Dale Flockhart) of 16 minutes 21.05 seconds. Fastest women’s crew was the Open Masters Double Scull from Strathclyde Park RC (Gillian Connal) in a time of 18 minutes 26.11 seconds. Fastest Women’s single scull was the Dundee University BC Restricted 2 sculler Fiona Lapp in a time of 20 minutes 13.04 seconds, whilst in the Open Single Sculls event the fastest men’s single sculler was Hugh Reilly from Edinburgh University BC in a time of 17 minutes 56.07 seconds.

Full sets of results from both days of racing may be accessed using the link to latest results on the Inverness Rowing Club’s website - https://www.events.invernessrowing.uk/