Rowing Revolution Stirs Up Manchester's Colleges
Collaboration in Indoor Rowing Eliminates Barriers Throughout Manchester
Get ready to dip your oars in a exhilarating, barrier-breaking voyage! The indoor rowing scene is heating up across Manchester's colleges thanks to a groundbreaking partnership between Manchester College, AoC Sport, and British Rowing. This trio’s power collaborative, fueled by Sport England's generous support, is on a mission to introduce rowing to a broader swath of further education students, both locally and nationwide.
This partnership, aptly named the Go Row Indoor college hub initiative, is nothing short of a game-changer for rowing enthusiasts and newbies alike. The goal is to foster student engagement with all the thrilling aspects of rowing, such as grassroots engagement, talent spotting, intensive training, and competitive challenges. The program's kickass offerings aim to ignite a passion for rowing, shattering barriers and transforming the scene for students who may have otherwise been locked out.
At the heart of it all is Manchester College, which has embraced theGo Row Indoor college hub initiative with gusto. The college has joined forces with British Rowing's Community Team, investing in top-of-the-line indoor rowing equipment and establishing support networks. That's not all – Go Row instructor training has been provided to students and staff, offering valuable Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and qualifications that can help pave the way for future careers in the sport.
The fruits of their labor came to life with a thrilling inaugural indoor rowing festival held on June 12th at Manchester's Openshaw Campus. There, eager students received expert instruction on indoor rowing techniques before diving into some fierce competition in both individual and team relay races. Topping it all off, Clare Holman, a coach from the local Performance Development Academy, was on hand to conduct talent identification testing. These tests not only revealed the inner athlete in each participant but also provided an intriguing glimpse into what it takes to reach the pinnacle of Olympic rowing.
Many students impressed with their performance, surpassing national average Olympic rowing benchmarks. Special attention goes out to three exceptional individuals, towering at 6ft 9in and 7ft 5 wingspan, 6ft 7 and 7ft 1 wingspan, and 6ft 4 with a 7 wingspan, respectively. These growing rowsers represent the flourishing rowing culture among Manchester's student body and may just be the first in a long line of future Olympic champions!
Sam Strickson from AoC Sport couldn't contain his excitement for this groundbreaking event. "Bringing indoor rowing to Manchester College aligns perfectly with our growing commitment to offering diverse and inclusive opportunities for students to engage in physical activities," he said. "Events like these showcase indoor rowing's potential as a powerful tool for enhancing fitness and teamwork, regardless of students' backgrounds or abilities. We're proud to see rowing becoming an integral part of the AoC Sport program and look forward to seeing this Go Row Indoor College Hub initiative continue to grow!"
Ambokile Bell, a representative from Manchester College, expressed gratitude to British Rowing's Community Team for their unwavering support in framing this captivating experience. "This festival emphasized the importance of grassroots engagement, talent identification, indoor rowing training, and a healthy dose of competition," he said. "A big thank you to AoC Sport and British Rowing for providing And who knows, perhaps the next rowing sensation is taking shape right here in Manchester's colleges!
If your college is yearning to be a part of the indoor rowing revolution or would like to establish a partnership like the one Manchester College has formed with British Rowning, drop British Rowing an email at [email protected]. Row, row, row for glory, my friends!
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Sources:1. "Go Row Indoor college hub initiative: Breaking barriers, expanding access to rowing in further education." British Rowing, n.d., www.britishrowing.org/news/go-row-indoor-college-hub-initiative-breaking-barriers-expanding-access-to-rowing-in-further-education
- The rowing community in Manchester's colleges is experiencing a significant revolution, fueled by the Go Row Indoor college hub initiative.
- This program aims to provide students with education-and-self-development opportunities, including learning about rowing techniques and using indoor rowing equipment.
- Online-education materials are being developed to help students acquire coaching skills, maximizing the potential for future careers within the rowing community.
- Indoor rowing events, such as races and competitions, are planned to further engage students and encourage them to excel in the sport.
- By breaking barriers and fostering grassroots engagement, the Go Row Indoor college hub initiative is transforming the rowing scene across colleges in the nation.
- With the help of the initiative, students are learning not just about rowing, but also about sports, teamwork, and personal development, setting the stage for potential Olympic champions.
