With only two of the twelve girls having rowed before, the programme aimed at developing not only rowing on the river, but also rowing technique and improving fitness levels needed for rowing. The progrmame was facilitated by eight coaches from Cappoquin Rowing Club for two hours on Saturday mornings.
The girls worked on core strength via fitness circuits, technique on the rowing tank and endurance on rowing machines. This was essential in ensuring that the girls were capable of rowing as a group on the water.
Paul Murphy form Cappoquin Rowing club said ‘All the coaching staff at the Rowing Club are very impressed with the attitude and energy the girls have brought to every training session they have been open-minded and have approached every task with the dedication it takes to be a rower it’s like a breath of fresh air to see the girls enjoying themselves and motivates both the training staff and the current members to mirror the same dedication’
Blackwater Community school TY coordinator Gillian Jeffrey said ‘The River Rowers Programme in conjunction with Waterford Sports Partnership and Cappoquin Rowing Club has been a very successful venture for our Transition Year students. The programme has introduced some of our girls to rowing. They really enjoyed the six weeks and felt it did wonders for their fitness levels. Several have decided to join the club. We plan to run the programme again next year.’
Programme participant Lydia O’Brien saying ‘I loved participating in the River Rowers Programme and learned loads. Everyone was really encouraging and welcoming and I will now join the Rowing Club’ and Claudia Barry ‘I really enjoyed it and it was fun to try a new sport’.
With such encouraging results, Waterford Sports Partnership hopes to run another River Rowers Programme with TY students in September 2014.
