Heriot-Watt University students James Scott and Gregor Hall produced an outstanding row on Sunday to record the fastest time of the day and scoop the Men's Open Double Sculls title at the Inverness Small Boats Head on the Caledonian Canal.
19-year-old James, a 2nd year Structural Engineering with Architectural Design student who remarkably only took up the sport 12 months ago, and Scottish junior international Gregor, 18, (1st year, Actuarial Science), have already enjoyed a successful start to the season with victory in the Men's Restricted 2 Double Scull at the Clydesdale Head of the River Race in Glasgow last month. They also secured a 5th place finish in the Men's Lightweight Double Scull at the British Universities Small Boats Championships in Boston, Lincolnshire.
The result in Inverness was the perfect end to a rewarding weekend for the Heriot-Watt University Boat Club. On Saturday, at the Inverness Fours Head the club came away with victories in the Men's Restricted 2 Coxed Quadruple Scull (James Scott, Gregor Hall, Jacques-Etienne le Clerc, Gareth McShea and Nuala Black,cox), and in the Mixed Coxed Four (Jacques-Etienne le Clerc, Gareth McShea, Elise Baber, Nikki Monaghan and Hope Wright, cox).
This event also saw the introduction of some of the club's beginners to competitive racing, less than six weeks after first trying out the sport. Racing in the novice category, there were strong performances from the Heriot-Watt men, finishing in 3rd and 5th position in a busy field.
The Club next ventures to the North East of Scotland on Saturday 20 November for the Aberdeen Fours Head of the River Race.