School Children Discover Past Olympic Rowing Success

Over 100 children from schools in Denham, Iver and Iver Heath had a fantastic day out earlier this month thanks to South Bucks District Council. The Council arranged for children aged 9 to 11 years to experience a whole day of Olympic inspired fun including a visit to Dorney Lake the rowing venue for the games in 2012, a tour of the famous River and Rowing Museum in Henley and a trip on the Henley regatta route by boat.

The days, which form part of the Council’s programme of activities in the run up to the games as an Olympic venue host Council, are designed to give each child a comprehensive understanding of the history of Rowing and the part the sport has played in the history of the Olympics. These recent visits were the second time the programme has run and follow similar visits in 2010. It is hoped that all junior school children in the District will have similar opportunities in the run up to the London Olympics.

South Bucks District Councillor Anita Cranmer, Portfolio Holder for Community commented; “The aim of these events is to engage young school children in the build up to the games. With the rowing and sprint canoe events taking place within our district at Dorney Lake, we hope to inspire our younger residents to get involved and take up rowing or a similar physical activity”.

The visit to Dorney Lake included talks by Ian Barham, Buckinghamshire Manager for the 2012 Games and Nigel Weare, Aquatics Development Officer at the Rowing Lake, detailing the venue’s involvement as the host venue of the Olympic and Paralympic Rowing and Canoe Sprint competitions in 2012. The children were inspired by what they learned, asking lots of questions and were eager to pass on their newfound knowledge upon returning to school!

At the Museum the children attended a lesson on how the training of an Olympian/Paralympian has changed from the sport’s introduction at the Games in 1900 through to the high calorific diet and intensive training regimes of the modern era exemplified by Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent.

The highlight of the day for many of the children was the chance to follow the route of the Henley Regatta, and 1908 Olympic rowing course, by boat taking in the sights of the river and the local wildlife.