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In the Autumn of this year, nominations were opened for the Scottish Rowing Awards for the 2023-24 season. A significant number of high quality nominations were received from across the membership and the judging panel were faced with the impossible task to select 10 winners from an impressive shortlist of individuals, projects, clubs, and communities. 

1. Young Volunteer of the Year

William Coalter (HWUBC)

William was this year's Young Volunteer of the Year for his significant contributions to his club as well as the wider Scottish Rowing community during the year under review. Within his home club (Heriot Watt University Boat Club) he took on the role of President, ensuring the effective and safe delivery of rowing within the club. He also went over and above​ just this role though, acting as a trailer driver, and filling an important role as part of the HWUBC coaching team - all while balancing competing as both a cox and rower!

William is also a well-known face within the community, coxing for St Andrew BC, Clydesdale ARC, and Edinburgh University BC is a testament to his willingness to get stuck into any opportunity that presents itself. 

As a coach this year William has also been heavily engaged in several development opportunities, helping out the Scottish Rowing Beach Sprint Academy, acting as an assistant coach for the Edinburgh Univerisity Beginner Squad, and taking on the role of Lead Coach for the Tay RC Junior Learn to Row Camp. William was also a committed member of the Scottish Rowing Coach Academy, showing an enthusiasm for continuous professional development that has made him a fantastic member of our community. 

For these reasons amongst many more, the awards panel felt William was more than deserving of recognition for being Scottish Rowing's Young Volunteer of the Year for the 2023-24 season.​

2. Volunteer of the Year

Gary Bain (ABC)

Gary is a very familiar face to many within the Scottish Rowing community due to his involvement in all aspects of the sport. Gary is currently a key member of SRROC - the committee that organises Scottish Rowing regattas, acting as head umpire and being a key component that enables our national events to run smoothly. Additionally, he has also been involved in developing the next generation of trainee umpires.

​At his home club Aberdeen Boat Club Gary has also had a tremendous impact on the master's women squad, supporting them to develop and grow to over 40 strong, competing nationally and restoring a buzz of excitement around the club.

Gary has been an outstanding member of the Scottish Rowing community during the year under review and for this reason, the awards panel felt he was more than deserving of being our Volunteer of the Year!

3. Club Coach of the Year

Skye Ballance (CARC)

Skye has been an exceptional coach at Clydesdale during the 2023-24 season, taking on the role of Lead Junior Coach responsible for organising a team of junior coaches and making sure no athlete gets left behind.

In addition to her work with Clydesdale ARC she has also been engaged in helping run Active Schools sessions at the SRC as well as assisting with the team up at the Firhill Youth Project.

​She has also been engaged in numerous development opportunities throughout the year, being a member of the inaugural Coach Academy cohort, and working as a squad coach for the Scotland Rowing Team at HIR2024.

Skye's approach to coaching and developing young people resonated well with the awards committee and for this reason as many as many others she was more than deservingly named Scottish Rowing's Club Coach of the Year.

4. Performance Coach of the Year

Holly Reid (ASRA)

Holly is an exceptional example of a Performance Pathway Coach. She works tirelessly with her group of athletes to set them up to have the skills and mental fortitude they require to excel at all levels.​

Holly has a host of notable athlete performances to her name with her crews winning prestigious events such as the National Schools Championship Coxed Four (Ch4+) and Henley Women’s Regatta Junior Coxed Four (J4+), but also in both Scottish and GB representation.​

For the first two weeks in August, Holly was in Canada, having been selected by the Great British team to coach the Junior Women’s U19 Pair (JW2-) at the U19 World Cup. Supporting two of her athletes from the Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association (ASRA), Penny Irvine in the JW2-, and Sophie Sinclair in the JW8+.​

Holly has also completed the UK Coaching “Elevate” development programme, aimed at developing women in high-performance sport and is constantly learning and developing as a coach.

A phenomenal year like the one Holly has had deserves recognition and the panel could not agree more!

(Gary Bain, Ron Wallace, Lee Boucher, Holly Reid)

Photo Provided by Scottish Rowing 

5. Initiative of the Year

Glasgow University Boat Club Sustainability

Glasgow University Boat Club has spent the last year focusing on sustainability and reducing the environmental impact they have. This has taken the form of challenges and initiatives to keep people focused and motivated. ​​They also made a real push towards using reusable water bottles and tupperware. For those who often brought their cars to training, they were encouraged to cycle or take the bus where possible. ​

Moreover, where the kit was lacking they held second-hand sales where they sold clothes from lost property to raise money for the club and to repurpose old kit.

This thoughtful approach to their carbon footprint was fantastic to see and in addition to being named as our Initiative of the Year, they were also awarded the title of Sustainable Club of the Year by the Glasgow University Sports Association.

6. Junior Athlete of the Year

Sophie Sinclair (ASRA)

Scottish Rowing's Junior Athlete of the Year for 2023-24 is Sophie who has had nothing short of an exceptional year. Rowing out of Aberdeen Schools Rowing Club Sophie and her crewmates first had an exceptional year rowing in a coxed four, winning the Scottish Championships JW18 4+, the National Schools Regatta JW18 4+, and the Henley Womens Regatta Groton Challenge Cup (JW18 4+), this crew then also went on to qualify in the quadruple sculls for the Diamond Jubilee event at the Henley Royal Regatta - an incredible season in itself for an athlete. 

Sophie was also selected to row with the Great Britain Under 19 Team at the World Rowing Championships in St Catharines, Canada. Representing GB in the 8+ and managing to race to a silver medal within a stacked field.

These performances marked Sophie as a cut above the rest and rightfully mark her out as the Scottish Rowing Junior Athlete of the Year.

(Sophie Sinclair, Lee Boucher)

Photo Provided by Scottish Rowing

7. Senior Athlete of the Year

Cam Buchan

During the year under review, Scottish Rowing has had several exceptional athletes within its performance pathway, with this award being one of the most debated by the awards panel - in the end though Cam was the clear winner. Having had an exceptional season across both the flatwater, coastal, and beach sprints disciplines Cam's performances have been consistently at the highest level. The highlight of his year was without a doubt becoming a World Champion in the CMix4x+ at the World Beach Sprint Championships in Genoa, Italy where Cam and his crewmates (including fellow Scot Heather Gordon) took to the top step of the podium after a nailbiting final against the Spanish crew. 

On flatter waters Cam was also no stranger to the podium, winning on both days of the Metropolitan Regatta as well as Marlow before going on to qualify for Henley Royal Regatta in both the Diamond Sculls and Double Sculls Challenge Cup. This consistently high level of performance throughout the whole year was impressive to the judging panel, but what really tipped the scales was Cam's commitment to flying the flag and being an ambassador for rowing in Scotland wherever he goes - the Scottish Rowing Awards are an opportunity for us to recognise individuals within our community and the judging panel were very keen to recognise Cam's contribution by naming him as our Scottish Rowing Senior Athlete of the Year!

8. Crew of the Year

Maia Hely & Anna Fisher (SABC)

The women’s pair made up of Anna Fisher and Maia Hely dominated the Scottish rowing scene this year, despite only coming together in the run-up to Scottish Rowing Spring Regatta 2024. The crew not only outclassed their competition in the R2 category at Scottish Spring Regatta but also in the W2- at Scottish Championships (where they came an impressive 2nd), before representing Scotland in this boat class and securing a dominant win at HIR. The two rowers also supported other crews in the club to great success this year, being part of the St Andrew Boat Club W8+ that secured the challenge pennant at WEHORR.

The awards panel were particularly impressed with not just these achievements, but also accomplishing this while balancing working full-time jobs and training within a club environment. For these reasons, the panel chose this crew as the Scottish Rowing Crew of the Year.​

(Maia Hely, Anna Fisher )

Photo credit: Ron Wallace

9. Club of the Year

St Andrew Boat Club

St Andrew Boat Club has increased in size considerably to now about 180 members – a growth that has been made possible by a dedicated group of volunteers who coach and run sessions for experienced rowers, but also Learn to Row courses both for children and adults. ​

Not only has SABC seen unparalleled success at regattas, but the club has also established a regular diary of rowing sessions and events for rowers of all ages who are less experienced or not interested in racing. This includes the club’s “Monkey Games”, which see beginners and juniors race with seniors and masters rowers in quads, boosting community spirit in the club and a sense of belonging even in the most inexperienced beginner. ​ LTRs for juniors and seniors are a staple at the club and are held regularly across the year – with the majority of participants joining the club as a result. ​

Always keen to improve to ensure greater sustainability, the club’s next phase of development will include solar panels on the boathouse to generate green energy. ​

St Andrew BC is very inclusive and offers rowing opportunities for para-athletes – this year, the Club Captain Lindsay Flockhart has successfully integrated blind athlete, Sam Gough, into the SABC women's squad. Not only this, but he has coached her to wins both domestically and nationally at the Henley Women’s Regatta, Home International Regatta, as well as to British Rowing Trials. ​

The club’s racing crews celebrated amazing successes this year, with wins at all domestic regattas, as well as at Rutherford Regatta. While the men’s eight qualified for Henley Royal Regatta, the women’s eight also won the challenge pennant at WEHORR and delivered a strong performance at Henley Royal Regatta, only narrowly missing out on qualification, while a junior composite crew reached the semi-final at Henley Women’s and Sam Gough delivered the clubs first-ever win at that regatta. She was also one of a number of athletes chosen to represent Scotland at HIR – the second-largest number of any club. In total, rowers at the club secured five HIR medals – an outstanding achievement. ​

All of this is enabled by a core team of volunteers, led by Captain Lindsay Flockhart, with groups of members in charge of coaching the juniors and the recreational squads, maintaining the boat house and the club’s fleet, running Learn To Row courses and organising the numerous events that make the club more than simply a sports facility.

​St Andrew has consistently been one of Scottish Rowing's most successful clubs, but during the year under review especially they have been exceptional, and for this reason, they were the panel's choice for this year's Scottish Rowing Club of the Year.

(St Andrew Boat Club)

Photo Provided by St Andrew Boat Club

10. Lifetime Achievement Award

Ron Wallace

As a 19-year-old medical student and a member of Aberdeen University Boat Club, Ron Wallace took up the position of secretary of the Committee of the Dee (CoD). That was in 1974 and this year marks his 50th year in the post.​ 

The Committee of the Dee “is concerned with organising rowing events of the River Dee in Aberdeen” and its membership comes from ABC, ASRA, AUBC, RGUBC and Deeside Scullers. The term “Secretary” belies the breadth of the role he takes on. He is effectively a chair, secretary and treasurer rolled into one and nobody will dispute that he has been the driving force behind the organisation which is largely responsible for the unity that the Aberdeen rowing community enjoys.​

Ron organises the North East Regatta and the Aberdeen Sprint Regatta every year along with the various head races on the Dee. We don’t have an exact number but it is clear that the number of events he has organised will be in the region of 200. Even in the early 80’s he was pioneering the use of computers to streamline regatta organisation. Along with this he was identifying and procuring a range of equipment to make the lives of regatta umpires easier.​

Ron has been a Scottish Rowing Umpire for many years and turns out to have a significant number of events in the Scottish Rowing calendar each year. He has also acted as an event doctor on numerous occasions.​

In addition to his CoD role, he undertakes other beneficial activities. Known as ‘Snapper Ron’ he has produced thousands of amazing quality pictures which document life at Scottish rowing events. He is also regarded as the ABC unofficial boat transport manager to ensure all equipment gets to race events as required.​

From his university days through to today, Ron has remained a keen competitor who has kept his fitness, strength and physique and regularly races for ABC in sweep, sculling and coxing at Scottish events and further afield including Henley Masters this year.

​His time in the sport has been combined with a demanding medical career and as a family man, with six children, many of whom he has supported in their rowing careers, some at international level.​ Ron is an integral part of the ABC and the wider Aberdeen and Scottish rowing community. He is highly respected although his constant and continuous input is now taken for granted and he doesn’t necessarily get the recognition he deserves as the stalwart that he is.​ Through the many ways that Ron has interacted with rowing, he has shown a dedication to the sport and consistency in that dedication. Today he is still looking for ways to improve many aspects of organising the sport.​

The Scottish Rowing Awards are the opportunity for the governing body for the sport in Scotland to shine a light on some of the exceptional individuals within our community, and Ron is exactly that - his drive and dedication to his club, to his community, and to the sport of rowing over such a long period is more than deserving of Scottish Rowing's Lifetime Achievement Award!​