Club’s adaptive rowing time trials returns after three-year absence

AN ADAPTIVE rowing event returned to Phyllis Court in Henley after a three-year hiatus due to poor weather.

About 40 rowers, many of whom had impairments and disabilities, took part in time trials which took place between Upper Thames Rowing Club and the private members’ club on Sunday morning in bright sunshine.

The course was 620m and rowers from Oxford, Marlow, Guildford and Stratford rowing clubs took part.

Times achieved were used as an indicator of performance and determined the format of competition for the coming regatta season.

Some rowers used boats which had been adapted to help with their disability. This included fixed seats, seats with a back to them and modified blades with a reduced weight or length to improve to minimise physical strain and increase efficiency.

A ceremony was held to recognise their achievements by Bruce Lynn, who leads the adaptive rowing group in Marlow and councillor Kellie Hinton helped to give out medals on the grounds near Phyllis Court in Marlow Road.

Alba Robins, 14, from Turville, who lives with cerebral palsy and has a visual impairment, was awarded “most improved” rower by Marlow Rowing Club.

She said: “I found the time trials really fun. I really enjoyed it. The start was really difficult because I didn’t realise when to go because we got confused and then the river got a bit choppy and it got a little bit crazy.

“I felt so excited and happy at the same time. Sometimes I get really scared but being scared is a good thing because you know you want to do well.”

Alba said she enjoyed being with other crews who had other disabilities. She said: “I really enjoy being part of a squad that have other disabilities. I feel like I’m in a group that understands. Today was a really relaxing environment.”

Max Michalek, eight, who has cerebral palsy, rowed with Rachel Morris MBE, who won a gold medal in the women’s single sculls at the Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016.

Max, who is a member of Guildford Rowing Club and has cerebral palsy, won the “most improved rookie” award. He said: “I learned how well I can row and the potential that Rachel and I have in the boat.

“In the olden days, people couldn’t do sport if they had a disability but now we’ve adapted these sports and made it easier for other people. We had the perfect weather. I made quite a few new friends.”

Morris, who is wheelchair-bound, said: “This is about the grassroots of giving opportunities to row to find the enjoyment but also the physical benefits of recovery.

“A lot of people come into adaptive rowing after an accident or an injury and it’s a way of building back their strength, quality of life and independence skills because you need those skills to row.

“This is about getting the young people rowing. It’s about giving them the experience of their first rowing regatta or getting them to build their confidence so they will go into British rowing events is the plan. The next level would be that we’re part of an event and not standalone.

“We need to enable and allow these people to row in events and to be able to let them develop in the same pathway.”

Former Henley mayor Janine FitzGerald, who chairs Phyllis Court Rowing Club, said: “This is the only club that does adaptive time trials on this stretch of the river. It’s so important. Any rower wants to row at Henley and it’s very difficult for adaptive rowers to row here because they have to bring their own special boats, their coaches and people who support them because they can’t manage on their own.

“Today, they’re trying to do a stretch of the river as quickly as they can. We take our time with everybody who comes here.

“Their boats are adapted to whatever disability they have and the weather has to be okay and the river conditions calm enough so they don’t present any danger. Safety is the biggest concern.

“[The last few times] we have tried to hold it, it has been on red board which means no unpowered boats can be on the river. The fellowship among the rowers is probably one of the most important things of the day.”

Henley MP Freddie van Mierlo and Mayor Rory Hunt also attended to support the event.