Scottish & British Champions 2007 in WJ18 Coxed Fours
JUNIOR ROWING has taken place on the lower reaches of the River Dee since 1960 and owes its initial development to the enthusiasm of the schoolmasters of the then Aberdeen Academy. It has existed in its present form since the creation of the Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association (ASRA) in 1973 by Mr Bryan Steel and Mr Robert Newton, masters-in-charge of the Hazlehead Academy and Aberdeen Grammar School Rowing Clubs respectively, with the aim of forming a more powerful junior rowing squad to represent Aberdeen in regattas throughout the UK.
At present ASRA provides equipment and coaching for both rowing and sculling for young people up to the age of nineteen, whether or not they are involved in full-time education. Our current membership is circa 60 and is drawn predominantly from North East Primary & Secondary Schools. Member Schools, F.E. colleges and University Juniors may field their own crews in specific events, but normally our strongest crews are composite All coaching is carried out on a voluntary basis by ARA/SARA accredited coaches. While ASRA receives no local authority funding, it is a registered Service Provider to both Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City Councils. Within ASRA there are two distinct membership groups, of which the first and larger competes in various age categories at regattas across Britain and abroad. ASRA members now regularly feature in finals at British and Home International Championships. The second group is purely recreational.
Conduct on and off the water is subject to three sets of Safety Regulations. The first is issued by our governing body, the Scottish Amateur Rowing Association and the second by the Outdoor Education Departments of Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire County Councils. The third and most important from a local point of view is ASRA's own H & S policy.
Rowers and qualified coaches are covered for personal accident and third party liability on payment of the annual Rowing Licence fee to the Scottish Amateur Rowing Association.
Since March 2001 ASRA has boated from a new purpose built boathouse, made possible by the good offices of the National Lottery, Aberdeen Asset Management and Aberdeen Harbour Board, as well as the contributions of a host of individual well-wishers.
In October 2007 ASRA received an award of £269,773 from the Big Lottery - Young people fund. For details of how this is being utilised see The Project