A 75-STRONG fleet of hardy crews took to the River Clyde on Saturday as they prepared to take on the biggest open water rowing race in Scotland.

Castle to Crane involves 13 miles of fierce racing from Dumbarton Castle to the Finnieston Crane in the heart of Glasgow.

The race was open to any fixed-seat, coxed rowing boats of at least fours and passes many iconic places as the rowers battle their way upstream.

The boats launched at Sandpoint Marina at the mouth of the Leven, the site of Denny’s shipyard where the clipper Cutty Sark and the turbine steamer Queen Mary were built, before the race began at the castle.

The rowers then headed down the channel of the Leven before turning into the main channel of the Clyde and in turn passing under the Erskine Bridge, the Millenium Bridge, the Bells Bridge and the Clyde Arc.

With the Finnieston Crane reached and the challenge completed, the rowers were then able to enjoy the hospitality at the Clydebuilt Festival.

The premier prize is the Median Trophy, which is awarded to a crew which represents the whole fleet.

The winners of the Median Trophy finish in the middle of the fleet and this year the prize was awarded to Collieston Offshore Rowing Club in Admiral Redsocks.

The individual winners were as follows: Bonniest Boat: St Maur, Fingal Rowing Club; Youth Trophy: Atlantic Challenge in Ralph Bird; St Ayles, Mixed 50+ : WSV Woudrichem, Grut & Groot 3; St Ayles, Men 50+ : Orkney Gold; St Ayles, Women 50+ : St Ayles, Chris O’Kinnaird; St Ayles, Mixed Open : St Ayles (Anstruther), “St Ayles”; St Ayles, Men Open: Eastern, Sprite; St Ayles, Women Open: Boatie Blest; Double Scull / Randan: North Berwick, Flossie (Teifi Skiff); Shetland Yole: Orkney, Frideray; 4+ Oars General: Royal West of Scotland ABC, Najad (Jolly Boat); Pilot Gig: Ralph Bird, Atlantic Challenge-Wales.