Aberdeen Boat Club

15/05/2026

Following a successful NER, part of the club headed down to Lochwinnoch for the Castle Semple Regatta. We were treated to a busy day of 1k racing. A highlight for ABC was the W R2 4+ race, where there was a 1-2 for ABC, and the recently un-noviced women stepped up in their first away race at R2 level. There was another ABC 1-2 in the W Mas 4+ race. The beginner’s squad had a great day entering the WNov4+, ONov4+ and a Mixed 8+ to end the day. Putting all that hard work on the ergs to the test, the crews looked strong, building nicely to Scot Champs. The Bain/vdB 2x had a cruise through the semi-final with a little sprint to keep Dundee out of the fast lanes, followed by a hard fought and close 3rd place in the final. The Masters men performed well in the single sculls, with wins in two of the age bands. ABC won the following events:
O Mas AB 1x (Stephens)
O Mas G-J 1x (Mathieson)
W R2 4+ (Tinch)
W Mas BC 4+ (Tinch)

Thanks to for hosting, .rowing for towing our boats, and the umpires, with a special shout out to Lizzie who took on the role of senior umpire!

07/05/2026

After a successful start to the regatta season at SRSR, Aberdeen Boat Club had 59 entries to the North East Regatta, organised by the Committee of the Dee. The crews competed in side-by-side racing over two packed afternoons. Everyone was delighted when on both days, despite the forecast, the rain held off until racing had concluded.
🏆ABC Wins🏆
•O R1 8+ (Arthur)
•W 4x (Bain)
•W R2 4+ (Tinch)
•W Nov Mas 4+ (Donald)
•W Mas 2- (Meinert)
•O R2 2x (Wheeler)
•W Mas 2x (Law)
•O 1x (Wheeler)
•O Nov 1x (Le Maitre)
•W R2 1x (Lawrie)
•O Mas A-D 1x (Arthur)
•O Mas H-J 1x (Mathieson)
•W R1 8+ (Bain)
•O 4x (McRoberts)
•W Nov 4+ (Meakins)
•O Mas 4+ (Calderwood)
•W Mas 4+ (Carr)
•Mix 4+ (van den Berg)
•W R2 2x (van den Berg)
•Mas 2x (Bain)
•O R2 1x (McRoberts)
•W Nov 1x (Dzalbe)
•W Mas 1x (McCulloch)
Thanks to the umpires, CofD for organising, for providing great competition, and all our club members for volunteering to help make the weekend a success.
Next on our calendar is Regatta.

20/04/2026

For the first regatta of the season, Aberdeen made its way to the Scottish Rowing Spring Regatta with representation in 48 crews. Saturday brought some interesting conditions, but this did not stop ABC crews from performing well. Sunday allowed for some much flatter water, and all those present were able to enjoy some sunny weather. ABC medalled in the following events:
🥇Gold🥇
• O 2- (Field – SAN Comp)
• O Mas 1x A-C (Stephens)
• O Mas 1x GJ (Mathieson)
• O Mas 4x C-E (Hughson)
• O Nov 1x (Stephens)
• W Mas 4+ BC (Bain)
• W Nov 4+ (Moffat)
• W Mas 1x A-C (Lawrie)
• W Mas 4x DE (Ord – SCP Comp)
• W Mas 8+ C-E (Bain)
• W Nov 8+ (Moffat)
🥈Silver🥈
• O R2 4+ (McRoberts)
• O Mas 4x FG (Calderwood)
• W Nov 4+ (Tinch)
• O 4- (Beeson)
🥉Bronze🥉
• W Mas 1x DE (McCulloch)
• O Mas 2x F-H (Bain)
Thank you to Carol and Ron for towing, to the Umpires for ensuring safe and fair racing, to for organising, and to all volunteers involved.

01/04/2026

🌊 Join the Scottish Rowing Commentary Team! 🎤🚣‍♂️

Love rowing and want the best seat in the house at Strathclyde Park? We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join our Scottish Rowing commentary team for the upcoming regatta season!

As a commentator, you’ll enjoy an unbeatable view of the racing, help elevate the experience for spectators, and play a key role in the smooth running of each event — all while having great fun along the way.

🎧 What you need:
• A general knowledge of rowing in Scotland
• Familiarity with Strathclyde Park
• A clear, confident speaking voice
• Availability during regattas (we can accommodate for your race schedule)

Full training is provided by experienced commentators — just bring your enthusiasm.

📅 Keen to get involved for the Spring Regatta (18–19 April)?
Register your interest via the Scottish Rowing Volunteer Registration Form and select “Commentary” - https://forms.office.com/e/sQuDYUC2FC

Let your voice be part of the action! 🙌🚣‍♀️

05/01/2026

INTERCOMPANY ROW 2026

As the snow rises and the river ices over, picture the scene: it's June. The sun is out. The pimms is flowing. You and three of your colleagues are wearing ridiculous fancy dress. The crowds on the bar balcony are cheering as you cross the finish line and win the Aberdeen Boat Club Intercompany Regatta.

Looking for some company sponsored team building, or just to learn a new sport with some friends? The intercompany row will provide you with your own cox for six training sessions, culminating in a regatta. If you're not sure yet who you're going to recruit for your crew, don't worry; fill out the form and the rest can be sorted later. Feel free to contact us here, via email, or on Instagram with any questions.

See the link below to register your interest - see you in April!

https://forms.gle/S7t1u7xAycqoT58x5

09/12/2025

Aberdeen Boat Club fielded two crews at the Rutherford Head of the River, hosted by Tyne Amateur Rowing Club on the River Tyne on the 29th of November. The race took place over a 4.5 km course from Scotswood to Newburn, where the club faced typically cold Rutherford conditions. In Division 2, there were the added challenges of rain and hail to keep racing interesting. With just under 300 crews from England and Scotland racing over 2 divisions, ABC faced some new competition for this season. The two ABC crews raced in:
Div 1 – W (B4) 8+ – 7th of 12
Div 2 – W Mas 8+ – 5th of 6
Thanks to for hosting and .rowing for taking our boat down!

27/08/2025

Back in July, as the main regatta season had been rounded off for most, four members of Aberdeen Boat Club were selected as part of the Scotland Rowing Team at the Home International Regatta:
🟣 Matthew Hughson – U23 M 1x and M 4x
🟣 Oscar Forbes – M 2- and M 8+ (500m)
🟣 Murray Bone – M 4+ and M 8+
🟣 Holly Reid – Junior Team Coach
On the day, Murray and the M 4- came first in their race. Matthew got second places in both the U23 M 1x and the the M 4x, as did Murray in the M 8+. Oscar’s M 2- came third, as did the sprint M 8+.
Well done again to all four of them for their hard work throughout the season in the leadup to their selection.
📷 -

25/06/2025

A group from our Women’s Masters Squad made the long journey south to Nottingham for the British Rowing Masters Championships. Lead by coach Gary Bain, and only a week after a successful Scottish Championships campaign, the squad had eight full-ABC entries, as well as three rowers in a composite 8+. The squad were also able to provide 5 coxes for other clubs.

Our first race of the Saturday was in the W 50+ 8+, in a composite with Walton RC and Star Club. The conditions at the start were challenging, but the 8+ managed to attach and stay aligned whilst the other competitors had more complications. The crew managed to keep calm in the disorder surrounding them and used this attitude to pull away from their opposition and win their race.

The third block saw four ABC 2x crews race, with two of our entries in W B 2x, one in W C 2x, and one boat in W D 2x. The W B 2x of McCormick and McCulloch came second in their heat and progressed to the final where they came fifth. ABC also had a W 36+ 4+ entered in this block, who were able to position themselves at the front of the pack early in the race. They managed to keep this position until the finish, adding a medal to the ABC haul to round off day one.

Sunday saw more of our fours and eights race, with coxed fours off first. The W C 4+ came fourth in their final, a fraction of a second off a bronze medal. The W B 4+ were in a two-boat final but lost their race by two seconds.

Our Women’s Masters C 8+ had a strong start in their Championship event on Sunday, leading from the outset. They faced strong competition from the B crew from London Rowing Club, but ultimately kept them at bay to claim the gold medal.

Block 3 had our last ABC boat, the W B 4- who raced in a final combining Masters B and C crews. The C crew who started first held that position till the end, with ABC and London RC fighting it out for silver. Ultimately, ABC finished in the bronze position.

After that, it was hands on for the whole group, in order to get the final boat de-rigged, and the trailer loaded for the long journey back to Aberdeen. In what was probably one of the day’s most impressive times, we were able to leave Holme Pierrepont at 16:10, only 40 minutes after our last crew left the medal pontoon, ready for a 10-hour drive home.

Aberdeen Boat Club displayed strong performances across the weekend. Sweep rowing was particularly successful with everyone competing in a 4+/- or 8+ winning a medal in at least one event. A special mention also goes out to our members who helped other clubs out by stepping in the cox’s seat, helping two of these crews onto the medal podium. We had four members volunteer to cox Tideway Scullers School boats, with a bronze medal in the Op D 8+ event, as well as one who coxed an eight-club composite W E 8+ which finished in first place.

Full list of medals for the weekend:
🥇Gold🥇
W C 8+ (Carr)
W 36+ 4+ (Davies)
W 50+ 8+ (Williams - composite)
W E 8+ (composite with ABC cox)
🥉Bronze🥉
W B 4- (Bain)
Op E 8+ (TSS with ABC cox)

10/06/2025

For the last whole-club regatta before the summer, and a highlight of the Scottish racing calendar, Aberdeen Boat Club had an impressive 51 entries at the Scottish Rowing Championships. We were treated to some generally flat water over the weekend, though a typical crosswind over the middle of the course reminded us of Strathclyde Park as we know it best. Our Novice and Beginner squads were well represented for this regatta, with O Nov 8+ even getting their first win. The Masters Women had an exciting weekend of racing with a good number of medals, setting them up well for their next few regattas. The Masters Men took home some well-deserved medals after some very close races. The Open Men had us all on the edge of our seats in the final of the O 8+, fighting right till the end but missing out on the gold by only half a second. Overall, the club had a very successful weekend, bringing home the following medals:
🥇Gold🥇
W Mas A-C 4+ (Bain)
Nov 8+ (McDonald)
W Mas A-E 1x (van den Berg)
W Mas C-E 8+ (Carr)
🥈Silver🥈
W Mas A-C 4+ (Bannister)
W Mas D-F 4+ (Connal – composite)
O 4x (Zbikowski)
W Mas A-E 1x (Law)
O Mas E-G 2x (Bain)
W Nov 2x (Brookes)
W Mas B-D 4x (Bain)
W Mas A-C 2- (McCormick)
W Mas AB 2x (van den Berg)
🥉Bronze🥉
W Int 2- (McCormick)
W Nov 4+ (Davies)
O Mas B-E 4+ (Hughson)
O 1x (Hughson)
W Mas AB 2x (McCormick)
The weekend was also a great way to round off Volunteer’s week, and we would like to thank our ABC volunteers, including coaches and trailer drivers. Thanks also to all the umpires (especially the ABC ones!) and for organising.

09/06/2025

We're proud to have Carol as a member of ABC 💜

Our second volunteers' week spotlight focuses on some of the roles carried out by a huge army of volunteers that support our competitors.