Inverness Rowing Club launches outreach project to get schoolkids into the sport
INVERNESS Rowing Club are set to launch an outreach project in schools designed to get more youngsters involved in the sport.
The aim of the initiative is to provide schools in Inverness and surrounding area the opportunity to experience both indoor and outdoor rowing sessions to pupils.
The club will also be looking to assist schools in entering the Scottish Indoor Rowing League.
The aim will be then to help youngsters feel confident enough to get out on to the water. The club have received funding to purchase 10 boats as part of the project as well as hired an outreach officer to go out to schools.
Club president Robert Gordon says the aim of the project is to help grow the sport in the region.
He said: “We are going to be working in schools around the Inverness area within a 20 miles radius.
“We will go to PE departments and we have already met with school coordinators from Highlife Highland.
“The idea is to promote rowing both indoor and outdoor and to bring people down on to the canal and have fun on the new boats we have acquired.
“We have 10 new training boats which are ideal for early stage participation getting people on the water and having fun and enjoying themselves.
“We will focus on the Inverness schools along with Dingwall and Fortrose as well and we have had interest from Nairn Academy getting involved.”
Gordon says that rowing has a reputation of being an elitist sport, but that is something which the club are keen to dispel and increase awareness that rowing is accessible to all.
He said: “As a club we reached out to charity foundations, our junior cohort helped us create a dynamic video and put in details of high deprivation which impacts the local schools.
“That is who we want to encourage as rowing has a perception of being an elitist sport and that is not the case.
“We will welcome as many people as possible and get them on the water. It is not just about winning medals, it is about having fun.”
Inverness Rowing Club’s athletes have enjoyed major success at national and international levels in recent years.
They include Heather Gordon who won gold with Great Britain at the World Beach Sprint Championship.
Alan Sinclair competed for Great Britain at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero.
Last year, teenagers Sam Roxburgh and Shay Hammock were called up to represent Scotland at the Junior Inter Regional Regatta at Nottingham.
Gordon says while they are always on the lookout for stars of the future, getting more people involved in the sport is their primary aim.
“Before covid the club had 65 active members, now we have grown to 139,” he said.
“There is a good mixture between junior and adult membership. On top of that we have 40 associate members who are parents of the juniors. We have an active waiting list to get out on the water and our training boats will be used for that purpose.
“We have juniors who are performing for Scotland. We have had Olympians and world champions, and a current coach world champion in coastal sculling and there are opportunities for people who want to excel at this sport as well.
“If we can create talent that is great, but if we can broaden our base and get people on the water having fun, equally we get as much enjoyment from that as we see people picking up medals at competitions.”
Meanwhile, Inverness Rowing Club’s winter event takes place on Saturday and Sunday. A large number of crew representing clubs, schools and universities from all over Scotland, and including some crews from England will be taking part.
On Saturday, racing over the 4500 metre course from Dochgarroch to the finish line beside the rowing club boathouse close to the new swing bridge at Tomnahurich starts at 10am for crews in Division One, 12.45pm for crews in Division Two and 3pm for crews in Division Three. On Sunday, Division One starts at 9.30am with Division Two starting at 12.15pm and 3pm for Division Three.
