Welcome to ASRA
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 (formerly Aberdeen) 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 drawn predominantly from North East Primary & Secondary Schools, but includes College and University juniors. All coaching is carried out by British and/or Scottish Rowing accredited coaches. ASRA is an entirely independent sporting body and 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 all age categories from JU12 to JU18 at regattas across Britain and abroad. ASRA members 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, Scottish Rowing 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 Scottish Rowing. 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.