Golspie Rowing Club has been named winner of the Shieldaig Coastal Rowing Regatta 2019, after competing in a series of gripping races on Saturday (10 August).

The annual event, which brings huge excitement to the local community as part of the Shieldaig Fete Day, has been sponsored by The Scottish Salmon Company (SSC) since the skiff regatta was relaunched in 2015. SSC local Area Manager Dougie Macleod presented the winning team, Golspie Rowing Club, with the Liz Pritchard Memorial Trophy and a side of Scottish smoked salmon.

This year saw an increase in the number of clubs participating in the Regatta, with 12* clubs from across Scotland travelling to Shieldaig to compete. Local host club Shieldaig and Loch Torridon Coastal Rowing Club also competed in the Regatta following a year of hard work.

The full race results were as follows: Cockenzie and Port Seaton raced into first place in the Open Men’s, Avoch were victorious in the Women’s Open, the champions of the Mixed Open was Golspie, Men’s 230+ saw Cockenzie and Port Seaton take home the prize and both Women’s & Mixed 230+ was won by local club Shieldaig and Loch Torridon. The Regatta comprised of six races – Open Men’s, Women’s and Mixed, then the same categories where the total age of rowers competing totalled 230 years or over. Shieldaig was pleased to welcome several new teams to the event including Burghead Coastal Rowing Club, Newhaven Coastal Rowing Club and Portsoy Coastal Rowing Club.

The Regatta is a key fixture in the region, continuing to grow in stature following an increase in popularity for skiff rowing. Festivities throughout the day included live music and the best of Scottish food and drink, which was enjoyed by 400 visitors and locals alike.

Craig Anderson, Chief Executive of The Scottish Salmon Company, said: “Congratulations to everyone involved in making this year such a great success. We are proud to have sponsored the Shieldaig Regatta since its revival in 2015 and look forward to next year.”

Lisa O’Brien, Chair of the Shieldaig and Loch Torridon Coastal Rowing Club, said: “A well-deserved congratulations to Golspie Rowing Club, their hard work was rewarded on Saturday by winning this year’s Regatta. Thank you to all the other clubs for competing in this year’s event, you should all be proud of your performance.

“We must thank The Scottish Salmon Company for their continued support over the years, with their help we are able to grow the Regatta each year.”

*Clubs competing:

• Avoch Community Rowing Club
• Burghead Coastal Rowing Club
• Cromarty Community Rowing Club
• Golspie Rowing Club
• Loch Carron Coastal Rowing Association
• Newhaven Coastal Rowing Club
• Port Seton Community Coastal Rowing Club
• Portsoy Coastal Rowing Club
• Queensferry Rowing Club
• St Andrews Coastal Rowing Club
• Sutors Skiffies Rowing Club
• Ullapool Coastal Rowing Club