Few sports exist in which it is easier to identify talent than rowing so it is ludicrous that a perception remains it as a sport for the middle classes and the elite.
Few sports exist in which it is easier to identify talent than rowing so it is ludicrous that a perception remains it as a sport for the middle classes and the elite. As such, it was pleasing to see the image being challenged at Scotstoun at the weekend.
A day after the Scottish Schools Indoor Rowing Championship ?? it attracted close to 300 entries ?? the Scottish Indoor Rowing Championships drew some 540 competitors from all over Scotland and beyond, vindicating the decision to move the event to a new venue at the National Badminton Centre.
??We moved to this venue solely for the purpose of being able to expand it,?? explained Amanda Cobb, Scottish Rowing??s chief operating officer. ??We were at capacity before [at Heriot-Watt University] and we just said we need to move and open it up so we can get more people in.
??We added a schools event as well and a lot of people there were competing from a good mix of schools. More than half were state schools which is a start and we would like to see that percentage increase over time, but this is the first time we??ve done the schools event and we??ll be out there selling it with the idea of growing that proportion from the state schools and also growing that event.??
In post for only a year ?? she previously worked for the organisation with support from one part-time administrator ?? Cobb has now built a team comprising a coaching and development manager and two regional development managers who are working to an agenda of bringing the sport to widest possible demographic.
??I don??t think the image of rowing in Scotland matches the reality,?? said Cobb. ??It??s more about perceptions, so it [the challenge facing us] is about staging events like this so that people can come along and realise it??s not what they thought. High on the agenda is widening access, particularly in schools. We??ve got a real opportunity to grow the sport [rowing] and I think indoor rowing is a great route for that.??
That there is such ready access to rowing machines is obviously a huge asset in terms of developing such a strategy.
Meanwhile, her concern over the disparity between image and reality in terms of the sport in Scotland will be all too familiar to those running the likes of cricket, rugby and tennis clubs, to name but a few, while the enduring disproportionate number of private establishments participating in the schools competition is further demonstration of how state school pupils are currently being failed in terms of exposure to the widest range of opportunities to discover their abilities.
Rowing, though, is a particular case where many have probably developed at least part of the skill-set required and have the potential to excel, but have not previously had the opportunity to examine their potential in a competitive arena.
A completely open event such as the one at the weekend ?? ??just turn up and take part?? was the message ?? the expansion of the Scottish Indoor Championships in terms of participation numbers was not even the result of extensive marketing which, in itself, demonstrates the potential.
??The entry is up 20 per cent from last year and it??s not been marketed to a large extent. It??s been word of mouth, working with Glasgow Life and essentially what we can get out on our own social media channels and website,?? Cobb noted.
As to how many future Kath Graingers, Steve Redgraves and Matthew Pinsents were in attendances, we can only wait and see.
??There??s a sort of indoor rowing community as well which sits alongside [on water rowing],?? Cobb explained. ??A lot of the people taking part in this do row, but we??ve got quite a lot of people who are only indoor rowers and do it in the gym and compete in these events all across the country and around the world as well.
??Indoor rowing is a completely separate thing [but] it is obviously a tool for talent spotting. If you see someone who??s good on the rowing machine the chances are they will be good on water.??
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