THE huge success of Leander athletes at the Beijing Olympics has led to twice the number of rowers wanting to join the club.
But the trend may spell the end for some club rowers who could be shipped out to make way for new talent.
Fifteen of the 43-strong Team GB rowing squad were members of Leander and 13 came back with medals.
Leander’s head coach Mark Banks, who trained Britain’s silver-winning men’s eight, said: “We have doubled our numbers and are having to whittle those down because we can’t cope.
“That even applies to people who are already here. They are having to be directed to other rowing clubs because the new people coming in have more potential. We have to be quite ruthless; the bar has to be kept raised. Success breeds success.”
Leander club spokesman Robert Treharne Jones said: “By the very nature of the facilities here, people want to be connected, so there has to be a sorting-out process.
“There is pressure on the existing squad and trials are going on to see just who is making the grade. It is an ongoing process, something that happens every year.
“The interest reflects the very high standards of Leander Club.”
Steve Williams, club captain and a gold medallist in the men’s four in Beijing, said: “We are in the lucky position at the moment where we are getting the best money and resources and it looks like that will continue.
“It is critical because you can’t buy gold medals but you do have to pay for them. British rowing is using that money at grassroots and something we are doing very well is developing the sport at that level.”
Upper Thames Rowing Club has also noticed a surge of interest in the sport.
President Peter Sutherland said: “Rowing is clearly in the ascendancy. Obviously, Leander will receive most of the enquiries due to its success in the Olympics but we are having to rebuild our clubhouse because of the increased membership.”
Henley Rowing Club spokesman Adrian Lake said its junior section was “booming” and investment in new equipment and coaching had enabled the club to take on new members.
He said: “We have had 100 beginners join this season and have recruited eight coaches to work with them and another eight to coach the junior boys.”.
Published on 27 October 2008
|
