CHALLENGE GRAHAM: No wonder rowing proves so popular!
WITH the countdown to the 2012 Olympic Games now on, rowers up and down the country will be battling it out to pull on the Team GB vest made famous over the years by the likes of five-times Olympic gold-medal winner Sir Steve Redgrave, Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell.
Keen to try my hand at the sport I took a trip down to the Great Ouse in Ely to join up with members of the city's King's School rowing team during one of their afternoon training sessions.
With around 85 pupils taking up the sport at the school, results have shown that among the ranks are many rowers with potential for the future, highlighted by the U-14 girls quad finishing fourth in this year's National Schools Rowing Championships.
Before taking to the water, I was given a briefing on the sport by the school's master of rowing, James Robinson.
"There are two basic types of rowing," said Robinson.
"One is called sculling which uses two oars - one in each hand. This is the sort that would be seen in the Olympics and the other is called sweep oar which is where each person in the team has just one oar.
This is the type used in the Cambridge-Oxford boat race.
"Sculling uses the second amount of muscles only behind swimming and is one of only two sports that is participated going backwards."
"All the power comes from the legs to propel yourself and the only work in the arms is the last part of it all.
"The legs are the power muscles and the arms are the final fifth of a stroke."
My task for the day is plain and simple- to row a single scull boat along one of the best pieces of rowing water in the country.
After taking on board my introduction I am now ready to make waves on the water.
Stepping into my first training boat I am surprised at how such a narrow boat of just over 1ft wide can hold your average rower who comes in at around 6ft. But as I find out the boats are more than upto the task.
"All the boats are made of fibre glass," said Robinson. "The older boats would have been made of wood.
But the fibre glass is much stronger and lighter. It is all about maximising the power with as little as possible."
"Angles, length and pitch are all important parts in ensure that the blades and boat are set up to be their competitive best.
"A one degree variation can make a massive difference," added Robinson.
"A single scull would set you back around 9,000- 10,000."
As I cautiously step foot into the boat in front of a number of onlookers across the bank, Robinson offers me a valuable piece of advice.
"One of the most important things in rowing is to never let go of the bars on the blades as they are what keep your balance in the boat. If you let one go you will capsize.
"Your left hand always goes over your right."
After being brought back on to dry land I am then transported about half-a-mile upstream to jump in a more suitable training boat for novices.
Working closely with the Isle of Ely Rowing Club it is to be one of their flat bottomed training boats that will be my partner for the challenge.
"This stretch of water is one of the best in the country as it is very straight, giving teams ideal training conditions.
"It is used by the Cambridge University boat team to train for the race," added Robinson.
Hopping into the boat, which is significantly wider and with training floats, I immediately feel much more relaxed.
Calming me even more is the reassurance that I will be joined on the water by former Team GB rower Katherine Buckingham.
In 1988, Buckingham who is now deputy head at King's Acremont department, pulled on the Team GB vest when taking part in the World Junior Championships.
Avoiding the oncoming Cambridge University Boat crew, my first task on the open river is how to control the boat and this began with performing a basic stroke task.
Getting to grips with it after several failed attempts, Buckingham then puts me in a rather uncomfortable position by telling me to stand up in the boat.
Now, not being a lover of deep water, many thoughts went through the head.
"As long as you keep hold of both oars, you won't fall in. They will give you the balance you need.
"This task is all about building your self-confidence on the water," said Buckingham.
Managing to rise to the task, all be it only for a second, the time has come to finally put the package together to do my best Sir Steve Redgrave impression.
Several drifts into the nearby read beds do not deter me, as finally I catch on, rowing up the river I begin to feel like a gold medal winner as my strokes become one smooth and fluid motion.
Stroke by stroke, a smile appears on my face but any joy is short lived after a territorial Asbo swan decides he does not like the look of the boat, forcing my session to an abrupt halt.
Returning back to the boat house with the arms and legs now feeling heavy it can safely be said that rowing is a true sporting challenge.
For more information about joining King's School partner club the Isle of Ely rowing club CLICK HERE.
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Weather for Newmarket
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
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Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
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