THE Loch Lomond Rowing Club (LLRC) have been accepted for the possibility to win the Aviva Community Matters Grant.

The club are currently fundraising for money for a new clubhouse roof and club coach, Heather McKenzie entered the Aviva grant application last week in the hope of being considered..

The Aviva Community Fund offers clubs and organisations the chance to get funding for an important cause in their community.

Chosen causes then race to get votes from friends, family and supporters for their project to be entered into the Finals, where a judging panel will award the funds.

There are a range of grants on offer from Aviva ranging from £1000 to £25,000 and LLRC have been chosen for consideration for the highest one.

"We're delighted," Heather told The Reporter. "Now what we need to do is encourage people to go and vote for us to win."

Voting is free and only requires an email address. Registering entitles the voter to 10 votes for the organisation of their choice.

The club, which is the second oldest rowing club in Britain, have produced several Scottish, GB and Olympic competitors plus revered coaches who have gone on to coach many National and International crews.

The Junior section currently has 24 members ranging in age from 11-17 years old who train four times a week as well as over 40 senior members, aged 18- 70.

The seniors represented LLRC at the World Masters Championships on September 3 in Bled, winning 3 gold medals.

The clubhouse is in desperate need of repair, having not received much maintenance since the 1980s.

Repairs are desperately needed as the roof is leaking, the interior is full of dampness and the training and changing facilities are no longer fit for purpose.

Heather said: "There's lots to do but we want to set realistic targets for now which make our fundraising efforts feel manageable."

The club has a three step funding plan to modernise their clubhouse.

Firstly they need to secure £25,000 of funding to replace the roof and install solar panels. They will then use existing funds to upgrade and install new heating, lighting and insulation before refurbishing the interior.

This will include a new accessible toilet and wet room, a new kitchen, new flooring and windows painted inside and out.

Last month, The Reporter revealed that the club were planning to row the length of Loch Lomond, from Ardlui to Balloch to raise some of the cash.

Unfortunately, adverse wind and rain forced them to be pulled from the loch’s freezing waters by the club’s safety officer just 10 kilometres in.

However they were still able to complete the challenge on indoor bikes.

"It was a shame," said Heather. "But we are going to give it a try again in the Spring when the weather is better."

The club are now hoping local people will help by voting for them in the Aviva Grant competition.

Voting ends on November 21 with the judges results to be announced on January 16, 2018.

To register and give the club your vote visit: community-fund.aviva.co.uk/voting and search for Loch Lomond Rowing Club.