Both athletes also took part in separate single sculling events, Sharkey recording a solid two length win over fellow Inverness member Alastair Duff in the men’s veteran D/E event whilst Rothwell challenged well in his veteran novice C/D event but just missed out on a win.

Alastair Duff also took part in the men’s R2 single sculling event but despite having an early lead over the first part of the 1500 metre course was eventually overtaken by his opponent from Clyde ARC. Roy Sinclair took part in the men’s veteran F/G single sculls event, but narrowly lost out to his opponent from Glasgow RC.

In the three day British Universities Rowing Championships held at Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham, Inverness rower Alan Sinclair representing the University of East London struck gold on Monday in the Men's Championship Quadruple Sculls event where he and his fellow crew members clinched their medals by a margin of 6.02 seconds over a crew from Loughborough University. This followed Alan’s other gold medal in the Men’s Championship Coxed Fours event and his silver medal in the Men’s Championship Double Sculls event on Sunday. Alan’s bronze medal win was achieved in the Men’s Coxless Pairs event on Monday.

Meanwhile in the first World Cup regatta of the season in Belgrade, Inverness’s own world sculling champion Imogen Walsh was paired with Oxford’s Andrea Dennis in the women’s lightweight double sculls event. Narrowly missing out on a place in the ‘A’ final by a mere 0.13 seconds, they nevertheless claimed a good second place finish behind China in their ‘B’ final.

Belgrade, Serbia, 4-6 May (all times BST)
• Red Button - Sunday 6 May, 0930-1255
• BBC2 - Monday 7 May, 1130-1300
• BBC Radio 5 live and BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra will also be providing coverage during the three rowing World Cup regattas with double Olympic Gold medallist James Cracknell forming part of the commentary team
Lucerne, Switzerland, 25-27 May
• Red Button - Sunday 27 May, 0920-1045 & 1200-1355
• BBC2 - Sunday 27, May 1800-1900
Munich, Germany, 15-17 June
• Red Button - Sunday 17 June, 1000-1315
• BBC2 - Sunday 17 June, 1630-1800

In the breezy conditions on Saturday, the women’s veteran quadruple sculls crew of Hazel Geddes, Susanne Standish-Hunter, Hazel Smith and Leslie Foale recorded an outstanding win in their event beating crews from Tyne RC and Tyne United RC. Also racing on Saturday, Mary Clouston achieved a solid second placed finish in women’s veteran single sculls behind Eva Rankin from Loch Lomond RC.

In the difficult cross wind conditions on the Sunday, the Inverness men’s veteran coxless pair of John Sharkey and Dave Rothwell convincingly won their event by over two lengths ahead of two crews from Aberdeen BC and a crew from Glasgow RC. Later in the day, Sharkey raced in the men’s veteran single sculls event to claim a satisfactory third placed finish behind the winner, former international Willie Brown from Stirling RC.

The next main season regatta at which Inverness athletes will be competing will be the North East Regatta which takes place on the River Dee in Aberdeen on 5th/6th May.

Other work undertaken included the securing of loose rubber matting on one of the launching pontoons.

Thanks to all who assisted.

Special thanks to Mike Lofts and Russell Thomson of British Waterways Scotland for their co-operation, support and assistance in arranging to temporarily lower the canal water level to allow the works to be undertaken.