Taking a shot at powering the oars

IMAGINE that final pull, propelling yourself over the winning line knowing you have proved you are the greatest endurance athlete of all time.

There is something strangely addictive about the sport.

However, before I took to the water I had to master the art of pushing first with the legs, then pulling back on the oars on one of the club's rowing machines.

Then it was time to take to the Thames near Marlow Bridge. Experienced rowers would be out in their 50ft long sculls - narrow boats which are notoriously difficult to balance, but I was in a much wider, much safer, mondego training boat.

Phil Tinsley, women's coach at the club, has seen 20 women join this autumn, about three times the usual figure, and interest in the sport is high following Steve Redgrave's Olympic achievements.

Learning to manoeuvre left and right was fun but it was only when I started rowing for real, gliding through the water under my own power, that the real thrill of sculling - that is, using two oars simultaneously - became obvious.

People of any age, size and shape are encouraged to join in the fun and row to any level for a membership fee of £200 a year but, as an introduction, newcomers pay £10 for the first month and a reduced rate until the new year. But it pays to let the rowing bug bite before the real winter sets in and the weather makes you put your oars in storage.

The club has a history of rearing great talent for as well as Matthew Pinsent and Steve Redgrave, Cath Grainger and Gillian Lindsay won silver medals in the quadruple sculls in Sydney.

Mr Tinsley said: 'We are just as happy to see fat and 50 going out and enjoying themselves, but if you want to row at the national level you can do it from here.'

The club can be contacted on (01628) 482366

Taking a shot at powering the oars

IMAGINE that final pull, propelling yourself over the winning line knowing you have proved you are the greatest endurance athlete of all time.

There is something strangely addictive about the sport.

However, before I took to the water I had to master the art of pushing first with the legs, then pulling back on the oars on one of the club's rowing machines.

Then it was time to take to the Thames near Marlow Bridge. Experienced rowers would be out in their 50ft long sculls - narrow boats which are notoriously difficult to balance, but I was in a much wider, much safer, mondego training boat.

Phil Tinsley, women's coach at the club, has seen 20 women join this autumn, about three times the usual figure, and interest in the sport is high following Steve Redgrave's Olympic achievements.

Learning to manoeuvre left and right was fun but it was only when I started rowing for real, gliding through the water under my own power, that the real thrill of sculling - that is, using two oars simultaneously - became obvious.

People of any age, size and shape are encouraged to join in the fun and row to any level for a membership fee of £200 a year but, as an introduction, newcomers pay £10 for the first month and a reduced rate until the new year. But it pays to let the rowing bug bite before the real winter sets in and the weather makes you put your oars in storage.

The club has a history of rearing great talent for as well as Matthew Pinsent and Steve Redgrave, Cath Grainger and Gillian Lindsay won silver medals in the quadruple sculls in Sydney.

Mr Tinsley said: 'We are just as happy to see fat and 50 going out and enjoying themselves, but if you want to row at the national level you can do it from here.'

The club can be contacted on (01628) 482366