Dipping your toe in the water
Junior Learn-to-Row
Many of our current and past junior rowers have begun their rowing careers with one of our highly popular learn to row courses. Some of those participants have gone on to represent Great Britain, so what are you waiting for, sign up now!

We welcome beginners and novices ages 12-18. The course will cover basic water and boat safety, boat-handling skills, basic sculling technique and further development of existing sculling skills for those who have already had a taster. We aim to cover the British Rowing GoRow Level 1 syllabus, for some attendees we are able to cover levels 2 and 3. The emphasis is on fun and participation. Whilst the majority of the course is spent on the water, there will also be some land-based fitness training for rowing included, along with basic ergo technique and flexibility.
Our goal is to ensure participants have a fun and safe introduction to the exciting sport of rowing.
Our courses run during Easter, May and October half terms, some weekends and the Summer holidays.
Participants are taught in small groups, typcially of four of five. Each days session lasts for around two hours, the first group starts at 13.30 and finishes at 15:30, the second group starts at 14:00, finishes at 16:00, the third group starts at 14:30 and so on.
Course Fees are:
- Fours days – £240 li>
- Five days – £300 li> ul>
If you would like more information please get in contact.
Dates for 2023
The Easter and May Half Term courses are
for for juniors who,at the time of the
course are in school year 8 or 9, and,
do not have a school rowing option
Easter
-
Monday 3rd – Thursday 6th April
-
Tuesday 11th – Friday 14nd April
Half-term
-
Tuesday 30th May – Friday 2nd June
The Summer and Autumn courses are
for for juniors who,at the time of the
course, are at least rising year 8
Summer
-
Monday 24th July – Friday 28th July
-
Monday 31st July – Friday 4th August
-
Monday 7th August – Friday 11th August
-
Monday 14th – Friday 18th August p>
-
Monday 21st August – Friday 25th August
The September Sunday and October Half Term courses are
for for juniors who,at the time of the
course are in school year 8 or 9, and,
do not have a school rowing option
September Sundays and October Half Term
-
Sunday 17th September – Sunday 15th October (five Sundays)
-
Monday 23rd October – Friday 27th October
Book a place
Easter
May Half Term
Summer
Autumn – (Now booking September Sundays)
Frequently Asked Questions
You will be provided with a stabilised boat, and accompanied at all times by a launch. All of our coaches are DBS checked, first-aid and rescue qualified. If the weather or water conditions are too challenging we will run an indoor gym session.
The course runs from Monday to Friday, apart from bank holidays, for 2 hours including a short break in the middle. Day 1 is mostly spent on land, learning the rowing technique in the gym; the rules of the river and parts of the boat, before jumping in a boat for some confidence building exercises. Days 2-4 are spent mostly on the water, and the final day sees all of the graduates participate in an obstacle course and a series of races.
We ask that all participants come prepared with comfortable sports kit including trainers, a complete change of clothes and a towel in the event of a capsize, a waterproof top, a water bottle, suncream and a sun hat, and plenty of enthusiam!
The course costs £240 for a four day course (bank holiday weeks) or £300 for a five day course. Every participant is given a certificate at the end of the course with the BR GoRow achiveemnt level recorded.
On the last day of the course there will be an opportunity to speak to the coaches about the next steps to joining the MRC junior squad. You will also be given a leaflet with more information. Graduates may be invited to join the squad based on their performance during the course.
Rowing is a sport, like many others, where skills develop over time. It is much easier for a new starter to join the J13s and progress through the squads than join in later years, although it is possible with a significant level of detemination and application.
