THE jubilation felt last autumn after Britain’s successful bid to stage the 2006 World Championships at Dorney Lake, Windsor, was added to yesterday when it was announced that Scotland will stage the World Masters Championships at Strathclyde Park, near Glasgow, in 2005.

Copenhagen, the original venue, was withdrawn by the Danes when environmental problems arose with dredging the course. Scotland’s bid, centred on technical facilities, a stunning venue and experienced regatta organisers, then prevailed.

The course, which staged the Commonwealth Games in 1986, the World Masters in 1988, the World Championships in 1996 and the national championships regularly, will be updated from six to eight lanes before 2005.

Di Ellis, the chairman of the Amateur Rowing Association (ARA), said: “The 1996 World Championships proved that Scotland can host world-class events second to none.” Mary Massaro, the Scottish ARA president, hailed the bid’s success as “the high point of a brilliant partnership” between the Scottish ARA, North Lanarkshire Council and the ARA.

It was also announced yesterday that Mike Baldwin will be chairman of the organising committee for the 2006 World Championships, which will be backed by UK Sport funding.

Baldwin was rowing captain and president of Trinity College, Oxford, and is the longest-serving London RC committee member, having joined the club in 1971. He is the chairman and chief umpire of the Head of the River, the UK’s largest event, and has chaired the national championships committee and the Metropolitan Regatta committee.