26/06/06

M-A to represent Scotland at Commonwealth Games Regatta

Mary-Ann Chalmers of Upper Thames Rowing Club has been selected to represent Scotland in the Commonwealth Games Regatta at Strathclyde in August.

In a series of trials over last weekend (24th/25th June) she won four out of the fives races in the matrix set up by the Scottish selectors.

In a matrix each member of the selected squad is seat-raced. This means one crew is raced against another and their time taken for the 1500 metre course. A member of one is then removed and replaced by another and a similar trial run off. By seat racing crew members against each other in double sculls and quadruple sculls, the fastest combination of crew members can be chosen.

Mary-Ann’s performance placed her at the top of her squad and she has been chosen to stroke the lightweight double scull with Maureen McGarvey in the bow seat, and also to stroke the lightweight quadruple scull for Scotland.

Mary-Ann is coached by Karl Reid of Upper Thames RC. He has been invited by the Scottish selectors to coach both the double and the quad in the run up to the Commonwealth Games.