Ardrossan Sea Cadets row to success

As usual they had been preparing months in advance for the big competition, which brings together units from all over Scotland, and Northern England to compete for the best rowers in four categories: Boys Open, Girls Open, Boys Junior and Girls Junior.

Ardrossan had entries in each category, representing the district of Clyde North, Glasgow, surrounding area and Ardrossan. The Girls open team had an addition this year of AC Chloe Milliken from Glasgow unit.

All their teams were in good form heading to the competition and put on a good show.

The boys junior won their first race of the day, however only managed to narrowly come second in their next two heats, meaning they did not make the final.

The girls junior team performed well overall winning two out of three of their heats gaining them a place in the finals where they came third overall.

The boys open, the team that had been to the national competition the last three years in a row, had the toughest qualifying group, Grampian and Tyne South.

The boys put up a great fight, coming second in the first heat, first in the second and only just second by centimetres in their third and final heat due to a snapped oar, so unfortunately they missed out on a final.

It was the Girls Open who were the stars of the show, cruising through their heats into the final with a clean sweep.

Although it wasn’t all plain sailing in the final, as they were matched against Grampian who put up a great fight but it wasn’t until the closing few metres where the Ardrossan Girls, featuring Chloe from Glasgow, pulled into the lead and across the line, gaining a gold medal.

The girls open of Marie-Ann Wales, Robyn Gurney, Sophie Gribben, Rachael Waddell, Chloe Milliken, and Rhana Guilfoyle will go onto represent the Area at the National Combined Regatta in London in September this year.