Bryan Steel

ARA Silver Level Coach and Multi Lane Umpire.

Educated Royal High School, Edinburgh and St. Andrew's University, began teaching in 1961 at Hillhead High School, Glasgow. Press-ganged into service with the the school's Rowing Club, he was delivered for training as a fledgling Rowing Master into the hands of the late and great Willie Hunter of the then thriving Glasgow Schools Rowing Council and survived!

Promotion in 1969 took him to Aberdeen (Hazlehead) Academy, whose green-clad rowers, including a certain young Robert Newton, had been terrorising the Junior rowing scene for some years previously. Extreme dedication or lack of imagination - call it what you will - Bryan has never quite been able to shake off his addiction to the sport. He retired from full time teaching in 1997 in order to give more time to coaching and to the completion of the new boathouse project. Presently he remains in overall charge of the Association.

Alan Lawrie

Scottish Rowing Bronze Level Coach and financial wizard, Alan began his rowing career at the age of 13 at Hazlehead Academy under the watchful eye of Bryan. Masterminded and stroked the first and so far only MJ15 8+ to reach the Final of the National Championships at Nottingham and together with Gordon Alexander was the first in a long line of highly successful ASRA Mens Junior Pairs. He started coaching at the age of 20. Alan oversaw the new boathouse project and deals with all of ASRA's financial affairs including grants and sponsors.

Ian Duncan

ARA Silver Level Coach and Multi Lane Umpire, Ian's long association with ASRA began in 1973 as a J14 schoolboy at Hazlehead Academy. Initially victorious in a Hazlehead crew he was then selected for an ASRA composite with the Grammar School which went on to win multiple Scottish Golds in all events from J15 to J18. He rowed for Scotland at the Home Countries in the highly successful ASRA J18 Eight.

Over the years Ian has served ASRA in many capacities including a long spell as Secretary/Treasurer. He is justifiably renowned for his finishing coaching skills at both Club and National level. 

Peter Turner

Born in Cambridge, Pete rowed as a junior for the City club where an "ASRA style" training regime yielded a decent set of pennants and tankards from Junior and Senior events. The highlights - qualifying for the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley (but losing in the first round); a fourth place in the final of the National Schools Junior VIIIs (gold controversially went to the Junior National Squad containing one Steve Redgrave); and the annual riot of the Town Bumps. After a considerable break, Pete now enjoys competing as a Veteran with ABC as well as coaching at ASRA

Kirsten McClelland-Brookes

Kirsten began sculling whilst at school in Dumfries and Galloway, rowing for Nithsdale Amateur Rowing Club, gaining a reputation for focussing on effort without regard for steering and ending up on the banking during numerous junior races. Following a break from rowing during her study time in Edinburgh, Kirsten took up sculling again when she began working in London. Following an epiphany or maybe it was a calculated lightbulb moment, Kirsten realised she could slim down to an “hangry” lightweight and the rapid rise to the GB team began. Success soon followed with wins and medals in world cups at Lucerne, Munich etc and representation at 3 senior World Champs, even reaching the semi-finals at Henley Royal “Men’s Henley” whence she was duly despatched by the reigning Olympic heavyweight champion from Germany.

Holly Reid

Educated at Cults Academy, Holly is a Level 2 qualified coach and plays a major role in ASRA's Learn to Row sessions. She started rowing at ASRA at the age of 13 when she saw the World Rowing Championships on TV and, after joining the club, went on to row in one of ASRA's most successful junior women's fours. Their most notable victories include becoming the first ASRA crew to win the Groton Cup at the Henley Women's Regatta; winning the Jim Mason plate at the National Schools Regatta and achieving gold medals in both the coxed and coxless WJ18 fours at the 2012 British Championships. Since leaving ASRA in 2012 she went on to compete as part of the Scotland senior team and studied at Robert Gordon University where she was the RGUBC senior women's captain for three years.