News

Posted: April 21, 2016

Castle Semple Rowing Club is getting organised to make the most of an expected surge of interest in rowing following this summer’s Rio Games.

The Renfrewshire club, whose members come from as far afield as Greenock and Ardrossan, was inundated with interest after London 2012.  Second time around it will be far better prepared with more coaches and more equipment.  

This week the club joined up Scottish Rowing’s Project Rio campaign which aims to support clubs maximise the interest around this summer’s Games by being better prepared and taking a more proactive role within their communities.

As well as providing coaching resources and incentives for clubs, Project Rio will feature a National Come and Try Week (18-26 June), Learn to Row courses through the summer and a Rio Regatta (24 September).  

Castle Semple is well known for producing elite rowers, yet it is strongly rooted in the community, and it is has a thriving junior section of up to 50 youngsters in regular training as well as 70 adult members.

It’s reason for signing up for Project Rio is to encourage more adults into the sport and keep them involved in what is a friendly and socially active club.

“We had a very big waiting list after London 2012 to the point where we have only just got through our waiting list for junior members,” said Club President Graeme Fletcher.

“And our head junior coach is already filling spaces on our junior courses for 2017 so we are using Project Rio to focus on new senior members.

“We have the ideal situation for bringing in newcomers because our loch is shallow with plenty of space so you can accommodate a lot of people at the same time.”

Since London 2012 Castle Semple has invested in its boats and its people.  It currently has 13 qualified coaches, covering every level from beginner to elite, and four Strength & Conditioning coaches.

By offering structured coaching through Project Rio the plan is to make the experience fun by running group coaching.

And by using the resources supplied to clubs who have signed up to Project Rio the whole process of bringing in and coaching members will be more efficient.

“We are better prepared this time around,” said Graeme.

“There’s a really friendly and welcoming atmosphere at the club and we have found that coaching people in groups is a lot more enjoyable and keeps people coming back.  

“With new people we put in a lot of time is spent coaching and encouraging them to reach a  level where they can then go out row with other people.

“That is very much what Project Rio is about; encouraging newcomers to come in, showing them all the benefits of being a part of the club so they have the confidence to go out and enjoy the experience of being out on the water in a beautiful location with likeminded people,

“The other benefit of being involved is to use the resources that are being put together.

“There’s a lot of useful information and support out there, and now it’s up to us to pick the parts that suit us at the club.”

For your club to get the most out of this opportunity for greater media coverage please sign up by 29 April 2016.

For more information on Project Rio visit:  Project Rio Overview

Or contact your Scottish Rowing Regional Development Manager; details at: www.scottish-rowing.org.uk/index.php/about-us/people