School rowing project gets under starter's orders
14/02/07
Forget the famous Oxford v Cambridge boat race, today two Aberdeen secondary schools were putting their rowing skills to the test - but on dry land!
The "virtual race" between Harlaw and Kincorth academies (pictured below) marked the official signing of a new partnership between Aberdeen City Council's Active Schools team and the Scottish Amateur Rowing Association (SARA).
As part of the pilot project, aimed at teaching school pupils rowing skills and encouraging them on to the water, SARA has purchased five rowing machines for each of the two schools.
These high-tech ergometers are being well used by pupils to build up their strength and speed before they hit the water for the first time.
In September, Morag Emery was appointed as a part-time rowing coach for the Aberdeen coach, funded by various organisations including the Henley Steward’s Charitable Trust, SARA and its English equivalent, the Amateur Rowing Association.
Her remit to create ongoing links between secondary schools in Aberdeen and the Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association (ASRA).
She said: "The Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association has one of the best rowing facilities in Scotland and there is a very strong club structure within Aberdeen rowing as a whole.
"We have been able to secure funding through the Active Schools team for five rowing machines for both Kincorth and Harlaw academies.
"I have been running a lunchtime club at Kincorth since the start of term which has proved very popular, with a strong group of pupils using the rowing machines regularly."
Active Schools Co-ordinator Sarah Louise James added: "Together we are hoping to create a centre of rowing excellence and a project which will be expanded to other secondary schools in Aberdeen in the near future.
"The immediate aim is to get the youngsters on to the River Dee after the Easter holidays, so they can put into practice all the skills they have learned already."
Among those attending today's ceremony were representatives of both schools and members of the Active Schools Aberdeen team, as well as Mike Haggerty, Vice-President of the Scottish Amateur Rowing Association.
The national Active Schools scheme, funded by sportscotland, aims to get to get children involved in fun, physical activities before, during and after school. The initial phase of the Active Schools programme in Aberdeen began in September, 2005.
There are now 21 Active Schools Co-ordinators and each has been allocated a group of schools, working with children to get them involved in physical activities such as active travel, active play and dance as well as sports such as basketball, hockey and rugby.
The co-ordinators also build on current schemes aimed at helping children to keep fit, such as after-school sports coaching while developing new opportunities for kids to get active by forging links between community groups and primary schools.
For more information on the Active Schools programme within your local school or community, please call 01224 346286 or e-mail activeschools@aberdeencity.gov.uk
