UK Schools- Competitive rowing 'too elitist'

by Gareth A Davies, The Daily Telegraph on 7 May 2006 An exasperated mother, Mrs Sandra Baker, is concerned about a lack of opportunities for state school students who wish to take part in sculling events - where competitors use an oar in each hand, as opposed to rowing, or sweeping, with a single oar.

Her son rows for Windsor Boys' School Boat Club, one of England's best state school boat clubs, but she said there were limited chances for them to take part in sculling.

'In line with Amateur Rowing Association recommendations, boys who join the school aged 13 are taught to scull, to ensure even body development at an age when they are growing rapidly. As the boys get older, there are limited opportunities for them to compete at the highest level in sculling.'

At the 2005 Schools' Head of the River, junior scullers aged under 16 were not able to take part, and this year's Schools' Head of the River prohibited all scullers from taking part. At the annual National Schools Regatta, in July, the number of rowing, or sweep, events outnumbers those in sculling.

She said:'The ARA are not unaware of this situation and, through their lack of support for sculling, are ensuring it con-tinues. The majority of state schools scull, whereas private schools sweep. So much for rowing being a sport for all, and not for an elite few who attend private schools.'

Chris Morrell, the acting director of rowing at Windsor Boys' School, helped form a group, The Scullery, to promote sculling. They held the first Schools Sculling Head of the River at Henley, in March, which attracted more than 1,000 crews. Mrs Baker's son's coxless quad crew won the junior under 16 'B' event and were fourth overall, beating 17 out of 20 'A' crews.