Warrington Youth Rowing Club 'wanted to smash elitist image'

A rowing club says it wants to "smash" people's perceptions of the sport as being the sole preserve of elite universities and the privileged few.

Warrington Youth Rowing Club was set up in 2016 to widen access to the sport for young people in the town.

Since then, hundreds have benefitted from the charity's work.

Co-founder Richard Sinnott said participants gained and honed many new skills through rowing, including teamworking, dedication and discipline.

"Teamwork is the obvious big one," he said, "but they learn respect - respect for their crew mates, for the teachers and the coaches.

"And we are very keen on the fact that they should learn respect for nature and wildlife, and be in the outdoors."

Mr Sinnott added: "We wanted to smash the elitist image of the sport and to bring it back to the grassroots and to show the world that you don't have to be an Oxbridge graduate to take part in a truly wonderful sport."

He said students looked "forward to this session every week because it's just something totally different".

Students from Cardinal Newman Catholic High School are just some of those taking part.

The school stands on the banks of the River Mersey in Warrington, meaning they are well placed to take advantage of what the river, and the charity, offers.

PE teacher Paul McKean said: "I went to a state school like these guys and rowing certainly wasn't on the curriculum.

"I just wish we could offer it to more kids in the school because it is such a fantastic opportunity for them. They all absolutely love it."

The Warrington Youth Rowing Club charity has hubs across Warrington, Liverpool, Northwich and Manchester.

Every year, about 450 young people take part in the programme.

One Year 8 student, Lilly, said she had fallen in love with the sport after taking part

Previously she had only seen rowers on television.

"Doing rowing is a big change for me but it is really fun to do," she said.

Another student in her year, T'coa, also said she found the sport very enjoyable.

"My grandad watches [rowing] a lot on the tv so I've seen it but never done it before now," she said. "I'd love to do it more in the future."

Meanwhile a third Year 8 student, Lleyton, said his teamworking and adaptation skills had all been boosted as a result of starting to row.

"We have to sync and stay in time and talk to each other, give each other options on what to do," he said.

Crew mate Bradie explained: "We're mostly communicating and just trying to stay in time with each other so we don't hit our oars together."

Their headteacher, Jo Langstaff, said she welcomed the opportunity to learn outside of the typical classroom environment, and said the scheme helped raise levels of attainment and ambition.

"It gives our students the opportunity to consider a sport that they otherwise wouldn't have considered," she said.

"Coming into school and knowing they are going to be out on the river - be active, be part of a team and compete - it just inspires them."

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