By Tara Fitzpatrick

YOUNG rowing enthusiasts from Balloch and Dumbarton are gearing up to row the 26 mile length of Loch Lomond.

Members of Loch Lomond Rowing Club (LLRC) plan to row the distance of Ardlui to Balloch on September 23 in order to raise as much money as they can to repair the roof of their clubhouse.

Coach Heather McKenzie, told the Reporter: "We are the second oldest Rowing club in the UK and recently our clubhouse has deteriorated and the roof has begun leaking.

"We have been doing several fundraisers but our next challenge is our biggest yet.

"On September 23 we will be rowing from Ardlui to Balloch with the hopes of raising enough sponsorship to fix our club and continue training for regattas next year."

The club have been quoted £40,000 to repair the roof using a rubber coating but are still on the hunt for a local tradesperson to provide a quote for a solution to the leaking roof.

Heather said: "The clubhouse is the main meeting point for all our members, we store the boats we use for rowing there, train there during windy weather and it is the hub for everything rowing related in Balloch."

The aim is to complete the journey in four to five hours beginning early in the morning and finishing at the LLRC boathouse along the river Leven for a BBQ with family and friends.

23 rowers are taking part and have been working hard in preparation for the challenge both on the water and using the indoor rowing machines.

The club train in Loch Lomond up to four times a week but usually only go as far north as the Carrick on the Cameron House side.

They have chosen to do the whole of Loch Lomond as it is a site familiar to them but also a challenge they have never taken on before.

Alexis Smith, 16, from Strathleven told the Reporter the Loch Lomond challenge will be hard but worth it.

She said: "When I starting at the club I felt welcomed by everyone and they've all helped me improve. I have competed this year at regattas and done really well, winning my double.

"Our next big challenge is the Row the Loch, it will be hard but definitely worth it if we can raise enough money to fix our roof!”

Eilidh McGowan, 16, from Bonhill said: "I've been at the club for just over a year now and the coaches and people are amazing, I’ve learnt so much. I’ve leant so many different skills during the sessions and made so many new friends."

The club will be join by 20 members of Strathclyde Rowing Club on the day for support.

This is not the first time the rowers have taken on a fundraising charity having raised £1000 from a backpacking day at Balloch's Co-Op last year

The club have set themselves an overall fundraising target of £20,000 and have set up a JustGiving page to make it easier for people to donate - https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/lochlomond-rowingclub/newrooffundraising