2007 Season Round Up

It's been an exciting and interesting year.  We eagerly awaited delivery of our new yoal and enjoyed a successful launch weekend when she did arrive.  Getting the boat is really only a part of the over all picture, as we have discovered - oars and footplates make all the difference and we struggled to achieve a satisfactory set up.   Our initial enthusiam was dampened a little by our teething troubles, which are not yet resolved.  We were not to realise the new Virdas' full potential this year.  Hopefully over the winter we'll get another set of oars made as two of our new set have broken.  The humliband configuration still needs to be adjusted, as does our foot rests.  We know what we need to do and hopefully all will be resolved for next year ...... perhaps!

We managed to turn up for most regattas, missing only the first one of the year at Collafirth.  We didn't make it to the championships at Burra either.  But it pays just to turn up and the open women were equal seventh in the league.  We've signed up some new club members but it can still be a struggle to get a team together for a race. 

Besides rowing, this year we've participated as a club in the voar redd-up.  The community council sponsors groups who take part, so in addition to doing 'our bit' we also raised some money.  In August we held Sunday Teas to add to our club funds.  Early in September we had a 'yoal night in' at Katrina Wisemans' which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.  We fully intend to have get togethers over the winter months too. 

Our biggest social event this year has been hosting the SYRA prizegiving which was held in the Quarff Hall on Saturday 22nd September.  We were slightly apprehensive about holding it as we had no idea what the turnout would be like, but we needn't have worried as it was a sell out.  Linda Hendry did a superb job of the catering and Loveshack kept the dance floor full all night long.  A really enjoyable night was had by all and we managed to raise more than enough for a new set of oars. 

We may never have made any real progress in the league but we have been very honoured to receive a cup presented by Dougie Grant in memory of Kathleen Grant, a much missed member of the veteran womens team.  The cup is to be presented annually, this year it was presented to Gulberwick & Quarff for our dedication and fundraising achievements.

Thanks to everyone who has supported us over the year, which has been a busy one.  Our AGM will be held in the spring - we're always looking for committee members.  Time for a bit of a change I think ....