Shieldaig Regatta is still 'rowing' strong
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KEENLY-contested action on the water brought the curtain down on another successful Shieldaig Fete and Regatta.
The ever-popular Shieldaig Regatta attracted 11 competing teams from across the Highlands, and even as far afield as Fife and the Lothians – all eager to put themselves to the test in a series of thrilling races around the 1.75km course.
The champions ultimately collected the most cumulative points across five categories – men and women’s decades, mixed gender open, and men and women’s open.
There were four different winners on the day, with Boatie Blest – the Cockenzie and Port Seton Community Coastal Rowing Club, from East Lothian – the overall champions with a strong tally of 52 points.
They also won in the men’s decades and men’s open, with Avoch leading the way in women’s decades, St Andrews championing the mixed open and Cromarty coming first in the women’s open.
Organisers were delighted with the success of the event, which brought visitors flocking to the Wester Ross village in their droves.
Lisa O’Brien, chairwoman of the Shieldaig and Loch Torridon Rowing Club, said: "Congratulations to Boatie Blest for winning the 2018 Shieldaig Regatta with an impressive 52 points, and well done to everyone who took part.
"Our thanks must go to [main sponsors] The Scottish Salmon Company for their support, which has helped the regatta to continue to grow. "
A key fixture in the region, the event has continued to grow in popularity since relaunching in 2015.
Festivities saw locals and visitors alike enjoy live music and indulge in the best Scottish food and drink.
A minute’s silence was also held in tribute to long-standing member of the Sheildaig community, Mr Duncan Matheson, who recently passed away.
Sponsored by The Scottish Salmon Company (SSC) for the fourth year in a row, the regatta was the climax of the annual Sheildaig Fete.
And SSC’s senior marine sites manager for the area Dougie MacLeod was on hand to present the Liz Pritchard Memorial Trophy and a side of Scottish smoked salmon to Stuart Mack, captain of the triumphant Boatie Blest.
Craig Anderson, chief executive at The Scottish Salmon Company, said: "Well done to all of this year’s competitors, and congratulations to the race organisers for once again putting together an incredible regatta.
"We’re delighted to sponsor such a wonderful community event, especially one that promotes our shared ethos of promoting health and wellbeing.
"It is an honour to support the Shieldaig Coastal Rowing Regatta, and to see it get bigger and better every year."
The clubs which took part in this year’s regatta were Shieldaig and Loch Torridon, Loch Carron Coastal Rowing Association, Ullapool Coastal Rowing Club, Queensferry Rowing Club from South Queensferry, St Andrews Coastal Rowing Club from St Andrews, Sutors Skiffies from Cromarty, Golspie Rowing Club, Avoch Community Rowing Club, Boatie Blest – Cockenzie and Port Seton Community Coastal Rowing Club, Findhorn Coastal Rowing Club, Cromarty Community Rowing Club.
