News

Posted: 05 October 2025

Thank you to everyone who played a part in the Scottish Rowing Awards.
With a significant increase in nominations this year—and the quality of each submission so impressively high—our staff and board panels faced an incredibly difficult task in selecting the winners!

A huge congratulations to all who were nominated, shortlisted, and awarded.
Your achievements reflect the outstanding talent and dedication within the Scottish Rowing community. We’re proud to celebrate such exceptional individuals and groups who continue to inspire and elevate our sport.

Club of the Year

Inverness Rowing Club 

Inverness Rowing Club has had an exceptional year. From strengthening their committee succession strategy and securing funding, to expanding outreach activities and growing their membership, they’ve truly excelled. Their efforts even attracted a visit from the Minister for Sport, Maree Todd.

The club has successfully upgraded its boathouse to support these growing activities and was awarded Coastal Sculling Academy status by British Rowing.

Inverness also hosts two of the busiest head races in the Scottish rowing calendar, welcoming clubs from across the country to the Caledonian Canal.

Well done to Inverness Rowing Club – we look forward to seeing even more from you in the 2025–26 season.

Initiative of the Year

Aberdeen Boat Club: World Masters Rowing Club Initiative 

What began as a small idea in coach Gary Bain’s mind three years ago culminated in Aberdeen Boat Club sending the largest British club representation—and the third largest overall—to the World Rowing Masters Regatta in Banyoles, Spain.

Initially planned for ABC’s women’s masters squad, the initiative quickly grew into a whole-club effort, sparking excitement and focus among seasoned rowers and those newer to the sport.

From entries and logistics to towing, flights, accommodation, insurance—and even kilts—the club pulled off an incredible experience. With wins, personal bests, and a third-place finish in the Women’s Cup standings, the trip was a resounding success.

Congratulations to Aberdeen Boat Club – you reignited passion across your club and are the well-deserved winners of the 2024–25 Scottish Rowing Initiative of the Year.

Volunteer of the Year 

Ian "Chalky" White (St Andrew Boat Club) 

Chalky has been a stalwart volunteer for decades and is well known and respected across the entire rowing community—not just at St Andrew Boat Club. 

Having coached for many years, Chalky has more recently focused his efforts on maintaining the SABC boat fleet. This year, with nearly 200 members rowing at the club, his contribution has been nothing short of exceptional.

In all weathers and on most days, Chalky can be found at the old Boatshed, repairing and maintaining boats and equipment. He’s now passing these valuable skills on to the Boatshed Team—a growing group of helpers that embodies the true spirit of community at St Andrew Boat Club, with Chalky at its heart.

Well done, Chalky—a very worthy winner of the Scottish Rowing Volunteer of the Year.

Young Volunteer of the Year 

Amy Henderson (Heriot-Watt University Boat Club) 

Amy’s rowing journey began just two years ago at Heriot-Watt University Boat Club. Despite being new to the sport, she stepped into a committee role almost immediately and has brought unmatched enthusiasm and energy to the club.

Her dedication has never wavered. In the 2024–25 season alone, Amy has logged over 200 hours of volunteering. Beyond her official club duties, she’s a regular volunteer at Scottish Rowing events and is currently working through her Umpire training.

Where she finds the energy, we’ll never know—well done, Amy!

Club Coach of the Year  

Michel Dearsley (Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association) 

In one of the most hotly contested categories, Michel received nominations from athletes, parents, and fellow coaches alike. A highly respected member of the ASRA coaching team, Michel has a remarkable ability to connect with athletes and ensure their individual needs are met.

Whether supporting athletes in balancing schoolwork with training or encouraging both competitive and recreational rowers, Michel sets an exemplary standard.

He is praised for his approachable and trustworthy nature, and for ensuring that ASRA athletes enjoy the journey as much as the results.

Congratulations, Michel—you’re a true inspiration to us all.

Performance Coach of the Year   

Lewis McCue (University of St Andrews Boat Club)

Lewis McCue hit the ground running in his first year at the University of St Andrews Boat Club, setting ambitious goals and surpassing expectations.

With the university recognised as a GB Olympic Beach Sprint Training Venue and Performance Academy, Lewis has expertly balanced upskilling himself to coach coastal rowing, encouraging athlete participation in this growing discipline, while also maintaining strong performance in traditional rowing.

With standout results at the University World Games, Coastal Championships across the UK, Henley Women’s Regatta, and Henley Royal Regatta, Lewis and his athletes have shown that it’s possible to excel across disciplines.

Lewis will soon be heading to Turkey with the GB squad, having been selected to coach at the European Beach Sprint Championships.

Best of luck to Lewis and the team—and congratulations on your well-deserved award!

Junior of the Year 

Isabel Soyinka (Clydesdale Amateur Rowing Club)

In her final year of school, Isabel excelled both academically and athletically. In the Beach Sprints discipline, she won junior events at Saints Regatta and GB Junior Trials, earning selection for the 2025 European and World Championships—an outstanding achievement in just her second season in the discipline.

In classic rowing, Isabel became Scottish Champion in the Junior Women’s Pair, Four, and Double, and won Bronze in the Pair at the British Championships. She represented Scotland in the Junior Women’s team at HIR and was named team captain in recognition of her leadership and work ethic.

Training solo at her home club on the Clyde, Isabel travelled across Scotland and to St Andrews to remain competitive in both rowing disciplines. Academically, she secured a place to study Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, balancing elite sport with her studies as she prepares to race internationally this autumn.

Congratulations, Isabel—an inspiring role model and a truly deserving Junior of the Year.

Senior of the Year 

Laura McKenzie (Glasgow University Boat Club)

Laura McKenzie continues to lead the way in Beach Sprints, building on her international success with a World Silver (CMix2x, 2023) and European Silver (CMix2x, 2024). She closed the 2024 season with a strong time trial (2nd) at the World Championships, only narrowly missing out to the eventual silver medallists from Italy.

In 2024–25, Laura’s training intensified through the Scottish Rowing Performance Programme. At GB Rowing Team testing in January, she demonstrated her dominance, earning a place on the new World Class Programme (WCP) for the LA Olympic cycle—one of only three athletes selected.

Domestically, Laura was unbeaten in the CW1x, winning at Saints Regatta, English, Welsh, Jersey, Scottish & British Beach Sprint Championships and the GB Rowing Team Trials

Internationally, she claimed a Bronze medal (CW1x) & Silver medal (CMix2x) – Cyprus International Regatta, and Gold medal (CW1x) & 4th (CMix2x) – Filippi Lido Trophy, Italy

Laura has now been selected to represent GB in the CW1x at both the European and World Beach Sprint Championships (October & November 2025), marking a powerful start to the Olympic cycle.

Her achievements continue to inspire across Scotland, proving it’s possible to be a WCP athlete while pursuing PhD studies and living outside the UK’s centralised rowing base at Caversham.

Congratulations, Laura—your dedication and success are truly remarkable.

Crew of the Year 

Edinburgh University Prince Albert Challenge Cup 4+ 

This year’s Edinburgh University PA Four reached the final of Henley Royal Regatta—a feat not achieved since 2016, and the first Scottish crew to reach a final since 2017. Facing a strong UL crew, they narrowly missed out on the win.

The crew overcame a challenging season, with athletes battling glandular fever and herniated discs. Their first race together was at MET Regatta, where they finished second, followed by another second place at Marlow Regatta. The discipline and determination shown during the training period between MET and Henley was as inspiring as their final performance.

In the Henley final, they led for the majority of the race, missing out by just three-quarters of a length. It was a truly inspiring race and a fantastic week of competition.

The majority of the crew continued their season at HIR, winning their race and contributing to the overall success of the Scotland men’s team, who finished second in the points table.

(Image credit: AllMarkOne)

Well done to the EUBC Prince Albert Challenge Cup crew—an outstanding season for you and for Edinburgh University Boat Club.

Lifetime Achievement Award

This award recognises exceptional individuals within our community who, through a lifetime of contributions, have made a clear and lasting impact on Scottish Rowing.

This year, we are delighted to honour three outstanding members of the Scottish Rowing community with Lifetime Achievement Awards.

George Parsonage 

George Parsonage has been an inspirational figure in Scottish rowing for over 60 years. With nearly 800 race wins—including eight Scottish Championship titles in the single scull—his competitive record is truly unmatched. Highlights include defeating GB sculler Richard Findlay at Henley and reaching the Double Sculls final with his 18-year-old protégé. He has competed in every Clydesdale Scullers Head since 1967 and still holds the course record.

With multiple records to his name—including a Guinness World Record—George is indeed well decorated.

He played a pivotal role in the development of lightweight rowing, helping to propose the category to FISA and competing in the first demonstration event in 1973. He raced internationally across Europe with top lightweight crews of the era.

Beyond competition, George has served the rowing community through his role as Chief Officer of the Glasgow Humane Society, rescuing countless rowers and leading safety education on the River Clyde. He also introduced generations of young athletes to rowing through his work as a teacher and coach at Glasgow Schools Rowing Club.

George’s legacy spans performance, innovation, safety, and education—an extraordinary contribution to Scottish rowing.

George Lawson & Sandy Walker (Joint Nomination) 

Together, George Lawson and Sandy Walker have quietly and selflessly dedicated over 65 years to Glasgow Rowing Club and the wider Scottish rowing community.

Beginning their rowing journeys in the 1950s with Glasgow Schools and Loch Lomond ARC, they later represented Scotland internationally. They were part of the legendary 1963 team that defeated a GB Olympic-level English crew. Both continued competing as masters well into their 60s, with George winning two World Masters medals. They still train regularly at the Glasgow Rowing Club.

As long-serving umpires, they have officiated countless regattas and played key roles in major events. Sandy chaired the Regatta Control Commission and managed the racing licence system before it went digital—many will remember meeting Sandy while picking up their paper licence (in person!) after he had patiently prepared each one by hand.

Founding members of Glasgow Rowing Club, they were instrumental in securing and building the current boathouse, maintaining it for years, repairing boats, and mentoring generations of rowers. Their support has been constant, practical, and deeply impactful.

Alongside their wives, they have previously run the Strathclyde Park Regatta tea tent, organised food for club social events, and quietly helped fund boat purchases. Sandy’s tuck shop alone has raised thousands for club equipment, including beginner oars and energy-saving upgrades.

George and Sandy have been rowers, umpires, builders, mentors, and more. Their lifelong dedication has shaped our club and community, and we are proud to recognise them with this award.

Congratulations to all of our winners.
These awards offer a special opportunity to celebrate the individuals who make our community so vibrant, and we were truly moved by the quality of this year’s nominations.

We now look ahead to the 2025–26 season—and can’t wait to see what dizzying heights the Scottish Rowing community will reach next!