A Victorian legacy the inspiration for Adam

A keen rower's family connection to Victorian heroine Grace Darling - remembered for her brave sea rescue off the Farne Islands in 1838 - is adding to the excitement as the region prepares to hosts the SkiffieWorlds.

- SHARON LIPTROTT

Teenager Adam Wilson is hoping his family bravery heritage at sea will give his Musselburgh-based Eskmuthe Rowing Club an extra incentive to go for gold in Stranraer next month.

Adam, aged 18, believes he is the first person in his family since Grace Darling's time to be involved in rowing and trains with his Eskmuthe crewmates twice a week -plus additional gym sessions to build racing stamina - ready for their week of destiny in Dumfries and Galloway, alongside more than 2,000 rowers from clubs across four continents in 79 hand-built wooden skiffs.

He is very much looking forward to the World Championship and said: “It’s my first SkiffieWorlds, so I am excited to take part in the event. I have competed in day regattas before, but this is bigger than anything I have done before.

“The beachfront at Stranraer will be quite a sight with all the boats lined up.