Grosvenor RC Learn to Row

 Wednesday night (9 August 2012) saw the most recent Learn to Row graduates from take part in their Splash and Dash Regatta to celebrate the end of their 8 week course. Grosvenor has been running Learn to Row courses since 2009 and this was one of our most successful so far with over 30 participants.

Four boats took to the water in the surprisingly glorious August sunshine in front of a crowd of onlookers, family, friends and club members. Although  the course was short (running from the Suspension Bridge to the Club, about 200 metres), many of the graduates hadn’t rowed at high rates and firm pressures for more than strokes so there was lots of splashing and wobbly boats but not a crab to be seen! Of the crews competing, two comprised wholly of Learn to Rowers, one mens and one womens, with the final two boats being a mix of Learn to Rowers and Grosvenor members. Overseen by head coach Al Slynn and Chris Hudson, with organisers Chris Fawcett and John Pearson, all boats completed four races each. Although the women’s Learn to Row boat was seen as the one to beat, it was the men’s Learn to Row boat who cruised to victory. After all that racing, it was time for the graduates to see the social side of the club, as everyone retired to the club house to enjoy a BBQ and some well earned beers.

Graduates of the Learn to Row course can now go on to join one of the Grosvenor squads, competitive Novice, our new Novice Master or Explore (Leisure) Rowing squads, just in time for winter training. Grosvenor will be running another Learn to Row course for both competitive and leisure rowing in early September or, if you don’t fancy the rowing, Grosvenor are always looking for coxes to steer our boats to victory. Check out our website at www.grosvenor-rowingclub.org.uk/ for more information, and see you on the River Dee soon!