A new rowing season which promises much for Edinburgh’s Callum McBrierty began in perfect style this weekend when the 17 year old won the under 19 category in the Scottish Indoor Rowing Championships at Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University.

The George Watson’s pupil not only won the 2000 metre race, in a time of 6:14.6, but he produced a faster time than all of the seniors competing, including foreign competitors from as far afield as Russia.   Had he produced the same time in November’s British Indoor Rowing Championships he would have won the silver medal.

“I’m pretty pleased because a lot of people had trained specifically for that event,” said Callum, who was inducted into the East of Scotland Institute of Sport last month as one of its first rowers. 

“But my body has just gone through winter training and has got a lot of stamina but not got the power yet.  I’ll develop that through the season and as I train for the GB pathway I’m aiming to peak in July for the 2km.”

As he works his way through the age categories, Callum’s seasons keep getting better.  Last summer he won the gold medal competing for GB in the coxless fours at the European Junior Rowing Championships in France.  This year he has raised the bar higher.

“Two years ago I competed at the Home Countries for Scotland, then last year I managed to compete for GB,” said Callum, who took up the sport on discovering he was ‘pretty useless’ at rugby.

“This year I plan to compete for GB at a higher level. I want to go to the Munich Regatta in May, race in the top boat there and then go on to the World Championships in August in the Czech Republic, race in the top boat there and become World Champion.”