George Parsonage - Riverman

18/06/2026

Ben left yesterday, boat on his roof rack, heading for Newark where he will put his boat on a trailer, and tomorrow morning will head for the ferry, cross the channel and onto Amsterdam where he will race on Sunday. Amsterdam Bosbaan attracts most of the best scullers in the world.
Christopher left early this morning for Henley where the ladies he is coaching from Clydesdale and Strathclyde University are competing in Women’s Henley.
Best of luck to both Ben, Chris and the many other Scots who are heading south to compete.

13/06/2026

Nice

Scottish Rowing is the governing body for rowing in Scotland

12/06/2026

New Tale

Tales of the Riverman 222 - Strange wording - Tales of the Riverman

09/06/2026

It was a nice weekend at Strathclyde Park. Forby the good racing I met friends, Old friends and made new friends. Boris Rankin was so nice and almost embarrassed me when he told me how I used to beat him at the north of England sculling regattas and heads. Old friends, Stewart and Linda Bates back home from Canada (welcome home), Ronnie Goldie who I had not spoken to or seen for years (great to see you Ronnie), Quintin McKellar, new friends Dave his wife and grandson from York, Phil the New Zealand Olympic medallist and of course my present friends, some of whom I see regularly, some only at regattas, Roy Sinclair, John Eadie, Martin Holmes, Willie Brown, Graham Stewart, Alastair Neil, Peter Morrison, so many who came up to see me. Thanks everyone.
Forgot to mention Tom Baxter who as so nice and kind to me.

07/06/2026

Stephanies turn to win Gold in her age group double. Ben sculled open doubles with a young man Oliver Plank from Stirling/Edinburgh University and took silver. I met a lot of old friends todaywhich was nice. Chris was running about non stop looking after his crews and scullers who all had a good weekend.

06/06/2026

Bens victories.
The stage was set for the race between heavyweight Olympic gold medallist Phil and our Ben. The day started with a time trial to decide what 6 scullers would race in the final and what lanes they would be given. The New Zealander won the time trial with Ben two seconds behind. In the final Ben sculled magnificently and won by several lengths (over 8secs), therefor again being both fastest Open weight and fastest lightweight in Scotland. To let you understand just how good a win this was, the KIWI sculler hope to again be in the National team for the next Olympics. It was also into a strong east south east headwind that should have suited the heavier scullers. A fantastic result Ben's. Coach, brother Chris, had a great big grin on his face.
Mother, Stephanie's quad managed an excellent silver medal going down on a photo finish by 3/100ths of a second. Chris’s squad are still racing.
I met many old friends at the park and had a lovely day out.

06/06/2026

This weekend sees the Scottish Rowing and Sculling Championships taking place at Strathclyde Park, the last race there before the start of a refurbishment and upgrading. Ben, Stephanie and most of the young ladies that Chis is coaching, will be competing both days.
Ben is racing lightweight and heavyweight hoping to defend both titles, the Freer Cup and the Ben Parsonage BEM Cup.
Among the opposition Ben faces, will be a New Zealand sculler who is seemingly in Scotland looking after the Kiwis at the Commonwealth Games. To the best of my knowledge, he was a Gold Medallist in the New Zealand eight at the Olympics, we will find out more tomorrow. After his very energetic, tiring, triumphs last weekend at the Metropolitan Regatta, Ben will again try to pull out all the stops. Good luck to all.

31/05/2026

31/05/2026

Ben has just won overall at the London Metropolitan Regatta Dorney, winning the London presented to the London Rowing Club by Charles \dickens over 16yrs ago. His time of just over 7mins was remarkable as was his victory over all the heavyweights.
Saturday result. 2nd fastest in the overall class. Fastest Lightweight.
Sunday result. Fastest overall and fastest Lightweight.
History of the London Cup.
“The famous novelist Charles Dickens and his son, Charles Dickens Jr., played a key role in the founding of the Metropolitan Regatta in 1866, which features the historic London Cup for single scullers. Charles Dickens Jr. served as the regatta’s first Honorary Secretary”.
“The London Cup
The London Cup was established as the prize for Men's Elite Single Scullers at the Metropolitan Regatta.
The "Triple Crown": The cup forms part of sculling’s historic "Triple Crown" alongside the Diamond Challenge Sculls and the Wingfield Sculls”.
Photos of cup and medals when available.

31/05/2026

In very rough conditions at Dorney London Metropolitan Regatta Day 2, Ben' sculling lightweight, finished second in the time trial. Role on tonights final. Only 1 heavyweight was faster-just. Go for him.
Nice to see that Canadian Hernley have re-established lightweight evrents-our Henley next?