Budding rowers at a Vale-based club have been boosted by tuition from a three-time world champion.
Loch Lomond Rowing Club (LLRC) welcomed Peter Haining MBE for two days of inspirational rowing masterclasses.
Peter, a three-time world lightweight sculling champion, is a former Vale of Leven Academy pupil and owes his early rowing success to the LLRC – the second oldest club in the UK.
Peter, 57, met with young members for a whole weekend of specialised coaching.
The two-day visit included lessons out in the water as well as nutrition and psychological advice for those aiming to take their rowing skills to the top.
Club treasurer David Arnold told the Lennox Herald: “One of our members decided to contact him. She explained that we have a number of young rowers and he said he would come up for a whole weekend and do some master classes. It’s fantastic for the young members.”
Last week the club also launched a fresh bid to get their clubhouse transformed and are calling on the community to get behind them.
The club, whose Alexandria-based clubhouse is in desperate need of renovation and a new roof, have started a JustGiving page in the latest round of dedicated fundraising activities.
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We previously reported how the club set itself the challenge of rowing the length of Loch Lomond from Balloch to Arrochar in a bid to raise cash.
And now the team, whose coaches
and committee members are all volunteers, have decided to launch an online funding bid.
David said: “When the clubhouse was built it was built to have a bar in it and it was a really successful social scene. Where we are is quite isolated and all the bar was doing was making enough to pay the bills.
“Because we were a commercial entity we could not get any grants or funding to fix the place. The bar was closed down and there was no money to keep the building in shape.”
David added: “There has always been problems with the roof because it’s flat.
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“The row of the loch we did in 2017 managed to raise some money but nowhere near the amount that we need.
“We have built up a reasonable amount and we are almost at the point where we can do the roof - the roof is the first goal.
“We have got to the point where we have to move out temporarily.
“We have taken a unit at Alexandria outlets where we got a good deal on rent and that means we can spent a bit of time getting things done.”
To support LLRC’s JustGiving page visit www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/lochlomond-rowingclub/newrooffundraising
