Partnerships with schools

Beechen Cliff School, Bath

Since 1995 Beechen Cliff School (www.beechencliff.org.uk) and Minerva Bath rowing club join forces every year and offer rowing as an additional activity for pupils after school. Courses start every spring and take place after school once a week. At the end of the learn to row course juniors are able to row in a single scull.

Many of the pupils from Beechen Cliff join our lively junior squad at the end of the learn to row course, training regularly at weekends and during the week and taking part in regattas.

Since the partnership started around 150 pupils have taken part in the scheme and learned to row. All juniors were coached by our Club President Arnold Cooke, who was BANES Coach of the Year in 2009.Some of the juniors who started rowing through this partnership have recently undertaken a coaching qualification, helping them to give something back to the scheme and aiding the new cohorts.

St Mary’s, Calne

For the first time in 2011 Minerva Bath has offered a bespoke 5 session learn to row course for a group of girls from St Mary’s in Calne (www.stmaryscalne.org ). The 2 hour session take place on Friday evenings when the river is at its quietest.

After an initial ergo session the first week, the other sessions involve the girls going out in two coxed fours. The girls have enjoyed the sessions so much, that there are plans to extend this collaboration and introduce a weekly rowing session in the school autumn term.

Other schools that are interested in starting a partnership with Minerva Rowing Club to offer rowing as an extra curricular activity to their pupils are very welcome to contact the Junior Co-ordinator Jeanette Müller.