Bewdley Rowing Club has been involved with Project Oarsome since its start in 2000. The club works with local schools to provide an introduction to rowing for 11 and 12-year-old pupils through a coaching programme sponsored by the ARA and Sport England. The sessions start with 10-12 weeks of coaching at the schools using indoor rowing machines, known as Dry Start, followed by a course of training on the water known as Wet Start. Many of the children who start with this introduction to rowing go on to join the club as junior members rowing either for fun or with the aim to compete in local, regional and national events.
Over the first three years of Project Oarsome, Bewdley Rowing Club was very successful, registering 120 children to the programme from two local schools, St John’s CE Middle School, Kidderminster, and St Anne’s CE Middle School,Bewdley. In 2002 this success was recognised by winning a new junior quad which was presented by Sir Steve Redgrave at the 2002 Henley Royal regatta. A number of our Project Oarsome group attended the regatta to receive the boat and had a great day being introduced to Steve Redgrave and being spoken to and coached by more of our Olympic rowing stars.
Project Oarsome has proved more successful than ever, We now work with three schools, Wribbenhall Middle School, Bewdley, joining us for the first time. As a result over 80 children tried the dry start programme with more than 40 being invited to the club to try rowing on the water.
Dry Start allows everyone to learn the correct and safe way to use an indoor rowing machine. Coaching develops the basic rowing stroke while also encouraging fitness and good training technique. Those who want to progress must first pass a swimming test and demonstrate they know the capsize drill. This takes place in the warm at a local swimming pool. By the end of the session everyone has normally lost their apprehension and are keen to tip themselves into the water.
Those who pass the swimming test get the opportunity to come down to the rowing club and learn to row through structured coaching sessions. On the water we build confidence through games and exercises leading to sculling in a range of different types of boats. Some even take up coxing and we now have club coxes competing regularly with experienced crews who started their involvement in the sport through Project Oarsome.
England. The sessions start with 10-12 weeks of coaching at the schools using indoor rowing machines, known as Dry Start, followed by a course of training on the water known as Wet Start. Many of the children who start with this introduction to rowing go on to join the club as junior members rowing either for fun or with the aim to compete in local, regional and national events.
success was recognised by winning a new junior quad which was presented by Sir Steve Redgrave at the 2002 Henley Royal regatta. A number of our Project Oarsome group attended the regatta to receive the boat and had a great day being introduced to Steve Redgrave and being spoken to and coached by more of our Olympic rowing stars.
machine. Coaching develops the basic rowing stroke while also encouraging fitness and good training technique. Those who want to progress must first pass a swimming test and demonstrate they know the capsize drill. This takes place in the warm at a local swimming pool. By the end of the session everyone has normally lost their apprehension and are keen to tip themselves into the water.